COLUMBUS — Robert Triplett, stepfather of missing Lowndes County woman Kaila Morris, remains in the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center awaiting his hearing for violation of probation.
Triplett was arrested Oct. 3 by the Lowndes County Sheriff”s Office on charges of exploitation of children. The arrest stemmed from pornographic images of minors retrieved from family computers during the course of the LCSO”s investigation into Morris” disappearance.
LCSO Investigator Tony Cooper says the office has yet to receive a subpoena for Triplett to appear for a hearing. Triplett remains on probation following a 2003 sexual battery charge, which was reduced to aggravated assault in 2007, in Jackson County. He was denied bond on Oct. 6.
Triplett, 56, of 181 Golding Road in Columbus, was the last person to see Morris, 21, before her disappearance from the Golding Road residence Sept. 17. He was also found guilty of forcible rape in Covington, La., in December 1997 and sentenced to serve six years in prison. Those charges were remanded for rehearing in 2001 and reduced to simple battery; after the victim in the case refused to testify, the charges were dismissed.
Triplett served six months in jail and was ordered to pay the victim a settlement of $50,000.
Cooper is awaiting further reports from the Columbus Police Department crime lab on other computers seized from Triplett”s home.
“There”s another (computer) we”re supposed to be keying in on,” said Cooper.
Pending those reports, Cooper says the case against Triplett has not changed. No evidence has surfaced to directly link Triplett to Morris” disappearance.
Tony Perkins, lead LCSO investigator on the Morris case, says no significant new information has been discovered to aid in the search for Morris.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.