After a 20-year-old Columbus man charged with capital murder was released from prison, state and county officials disagree about who should shoulder the blame.
Nathaniel Lee Major Wilder, of 1508 15th Ave. N., was released Nov. 3 from the embattled Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Leake County after he had served a four-year sentence for felony evasion.
He was later rearrested by U.S. Marshals in the Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., without incident Nov. 23 and has since been extradited to Lowndes County.
The Walnut Grove maximum security prison, which houses 13- to 22-year-old felons, was thrust into the limelight recently when 13 inmates filed a class-action lawsuit that claimed they had been physically and sexually abused by guards.
Wilder, who had been convicted in Hinds County, finished serving his sentence and was released on probation, said MDOC spokeswoman Tara Booth.
But Wilder, who is accused of the 2008 shooting death of Cornelius Cunningham in Columbus, had a no-release order, said Greg Wright, chief deputy at the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office.
Wright said his office had filed the required paperwork with the MDOC records division, who “were aware” of the hold.
“We have documents in our possession that show MDOC had a detainer on him,” Wright said.
But Booth said MDOC records division claims they never received the paperwork and did not know about the capital murder charge.
“After some checking, we have determined there was no detainer lodged on this offender, so we didn”t have an official hold on this guy,” Booth said.
Because there was no record, Booth said MDOC was required to release Wilder. The records division later filed a request with Hinds County to revoke his probation because he did not meet the requirements of his release.
MDOC will not begin an inquiry because it doesn”t “control what law enforcement does,” she added.
Wright said that if MDOC officials would like to come and look at the documented proof, “they”re more than welcome.”
Wright declined to release what kind of documentation LCSO had.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.