Mississippi
State responds after MS death row inmate Crawford asks US Supreme Court to stop execution
Executions in Mississippi: What to know
A look at the process of determining when and how a prisoner on death row in Mississippi should be executed.
More than a week after Charles Ray Crawford filed an emergency petition in the U.S. Supreme Court to stop his execution, the State of Mississippi is asking the Court to deny Crawford’s request.
Crawford, 59, has spent more than 30 years on death row and is scheduled to face execution at 6 p.m. Oct. 15, at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman for the 1993 kidnapping, rape and murder of a Mississippi college student.
Crawford filed two petitions Oct. 1 with the U.S. Supreme Court, one requesting an emergency stay of execution and the other seeking to have his case reviewed on claims of Sixth Amendment violations during his trial.
In a 38-page response filed Thursday, Oct. 9, the state refuted Crawford’s claims, asserting that he “has refused the process he was due, his punishment is just, and his execution will be constitutional.”
The state contends Crawford’s filings are a last-minute effort to halt his execution, years after the case was decided and far too late to be raised now.
The states stated that any “irreparable injury” to Crawford would be because “his lawful death sentence was finally carried out — not because this Court denies a stay.”
“His guilt is not in question — petitioner no doubt committed the crime that sent him to death row,” the state’s Oct. 9 response reads. “Petitioner was sentenced to death by a Mississippi jury in 1994. Three decades of litigation have not demonstrated constitutional errors occurred at trial. The Mississippi Supreme Court has upheld his conviction and sentence four times, and lower federal courts have denied him habeas relief. This Court has denied certiorari review at every turn.”
Crawford was convicted and sentenced to death in 1994 for the 1993 kidnapping, rape and murder of Kristy Ray from her Tippah County home in the Chalybeate community. Ray was a 20-year-old student at Northeast Mississippi Community College student.
In 1993, Crawford was out on bond awaiting trial on charges of aggravated assault and rape. Four days before the trial, Crawford broke into Ray’s home, left a ransom note to her family and abducted Ray from her parents’ home in Chalybeate — about 255 miles north of Jackson.
According to court records, Crawford took Ray to a barn, where Crawford handcuffed the community college student and stuffed a sock in her mouth before sexually assaulting her and stabbing her to death on a country road in northeast Mississippi’s Tippah County.
After Crawford’s family and attorney notified police that they feared Crawford was committing another crime, he was arrested.
“Petitioner initially told officers that he ‘didn’t know Kristy” or why officers wanted to speak to him,” the state’s response reads.
“When asked by FBI agents ‘if Kristy was alive,’ he ‘began to cry’ and ‘admit[ted] that Kristy was no longer alive.’ Petitioner then led officers to Kristy’s body, hidden in a wooded area near the abandoned barn. Her jeans had been ‘pulled down below her hips,’ her ‘hands were cuffed behind her back around a small cedar sapling,’ a ‘sock had been stuffed into her mouth, and a gag was around her head to keep it in place.’”
Court records state an autopsy later revealed Ray’s cause of death was “a large stab wound to the left mid-chest which punctured her heart and left lung, causing extensive internal and external hemorrhaging.” In addition, samples collected from the scene contained Ray and Crawford’s DNA.
More than 30 years after his 1994 conviction, Crawford’s current attorneys said his then-trial defense counsel conceded his guilt to the jury and prepared a defense arguing he was insane at the time of the crime — both stances Crawford opposed.
The attorneys stated defense counsel told jurors in guilt-phase closing arguments that Crawford was “‘legally responsible’ for the charged crimes and that he was ‘still dangerous to the community.’”
“Unsurprisingly,” the jury convicted Crawford and sentenced him to death, the attorneys say.
“Counsel made those sweeping concessions over petitioner’s repeated and vehement objections, which he expressed to both counsel and the trial court,” the Oct. 1 petition reads. “The trial court’s rejection of petitioner’s objections was a stark violation of the Sixth Amendment, which guarantees an accused the right to decide whether to permit counsel to concede guilt before the jury.”
The state responded by arguing that Crawford never instructed his counsel to maintain his innocence but instead to “‘vigorously advocate for acquittal’ which is exactly what counsel did.”
“Counsel pursued an insanity defense aimed at securing petitioner’s outright acquittal,” the state’s response reads. “The record reflects that counsel conceded underlying facts, yet at all times argued that Crawford was not guilty by reason of insanity.”
Seperately, Crawford’s attorneys filed a motion with the Mississippi Supreme Court requesting a rehearing on the setting of an execution date, arguing that no date should be set until his remedies with the U.S. Supreme Court are exhausted. The motion was denied Thursday, Oct. 9.
Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.
MISSISSIPPI. (WLBT) – Diesel prices climbed this week across Mississippi and the nation, leaving truck drivers uncertain about their ability to continue hauling freight.
Lemone Guice said seeing diesel prices at the pumps was concerning.
“It’s rough right now with the economy. We don’t know how it’s going to be with it being up and down,” Guice said.
Guice and fellow truck driver Ronnie Tran said they don’t know how long their fuel will last.
“If it keeps going like this, I don’t think we can survive,” Tran said.
Tran said his fill-up costs have doubled.
“My normal fill-up: usually around $600 to $700. Now, you’re talking about a thousand to $1,200, so it’s, like, double,” Tran said.
King Gaulden said the situation has been difficult.
“Man, it’s been ridiculous. Ever since Trump said the gas prices would go down, they have been going up. We’re just trying to figure it out. It’s been hard out here, man,” Gaulden said.
According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of gas is $4.54. That’s the highest since the summer of 2022.
Guice said the spike is affecting decisions about whether to transport loads.
“For those of us that freight slows up, yes. You just don’t want to be just getting somewhere sitting and fuel you know… you don’t know whether you’re going to have a half of a tank or a quarter of tank. That isn’t good,” Guice said.
In Mississippi, the average price stands at $4.00, up more than 28 cents from last week.
Tran said his wish is simple.
“I wish the price would go back to $2 and something. Right now, it’s $4 and something. I wish it can go down to two or three something. That would be nice,” Tran said.
Mississippi still ranks among the states with the lowest gas prices.
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This is The Marshall Project – Jackson’s newsletter, a monthly digest of criminal justice news from around Mississippi gathered by our staff of local journalists. Want this delivered to your inbox? Sign up for future newsletters.
The future of the Voting Rights Act runs through a legal fight over Mississippi’s Supreme Court. Also, violence persists in the Hinds County jail, even under federal oversight, and immigration enforcement in Mississippi is drawing more attention.
– Caleb Bedillion and Daja E. Henry
Mississippi grapples with SCOTUS voting rights decision
Last year, U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock ruled that the voting districts used to elect the Mississippi Supreme Court’s nine justices illegally dilute the influence of Black voters. About 38% of Mississippi is Black, but only one justice currently sitting on the bench is Black. All the other judges are White.
Then last week, the U.S. Supreme Court set off a legal earthquake by releasing a decision that significantly weakens the Voting Rights Act and makes it harder for racial minorities to claim in court that they are disadvantaged by voting districts used in elections.
The opinion in Louisiana v. Callais shifts voting rights law so much that the civil rights plaintiffs who filed the Mississippi lawsuit and the defendants have jointly asked a federal appeals court to void (the legal term is “vacate”) the ruling by Aycock and send the case back to her for new arguments.
As of Friday, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals had not yet ruled in response to this joint motion.
The Callais ruling has triggered intense speculation about its impact on a partisan redistricting war raging across the country ahead of midterm elections. With fewer voting protections in place for racial minorities, states across the South could try to eliminate voting districts drawn to favor those voters. This week, Tennessee lawmakers voted to eliminate the state’s lone Black-majority congressional district.
In Mississippi, the state Supreme Court districts loom as the most immediate issue.
When she found last year that the current maps discriminate against Black voters, Aycock gave state lawmakers an opportunity to draw a new voting map. In a legislative session that ended in April, they failed to do so.
A special session called by Gov. Tate Reeves is now scheduled for later this month, during which legislators could potentially change the voting districts of the Mississippi Supreme Court.
Will those lawmakers decide again to leave the status quo in place? Will they adopt a map that is more favorable to Black voters in a bid to bring litigation to a close? Could the Republican-controlled body take Callais as a signal to make the districts less favorable to Black voters?
At the same time, public speculation has mostly centered on whether Reeves will expand the scope of the special session to include the state’s Congressional districts. Some elected officials in the state — as well as President Donald Trump — are calling for more sweeping changes that will change the state’s congressional districts to eliminate a Black-majority district currently represented by Bennie Thompson, a Democrat.
Violence continues at Hinds County jail
Violence continues to plague Hinds County’s Raymond Detention Center, now under the control of a court-appointed federal receiver. Two men were assaulted at the jail on April 23, Sheriff Tyree Jones confirmed to Mississippi Today.
The men were identified as 26-year-old Isaac Gibson and 22-year-old Quandarius Beasley. Gibson’s aunt told Mississippi Today that he had been stabbed.
Violence is just one of the systemic issues that have plagued the facility for decades, leading to the federal takeover. U.S. District Court Judge Carlton W. Reeves ordered the receivership in 2022 after the county repeatedly failed to address constitutional violations found in the U.S. Department of Justice’s 2014 investigation.
Federal receiver, Wendell M. France Sr., took over operations at the facility in October 2025. In a February 2026 court hearing, France said staffing levels at the facility were “woeful.” The building is deteriorating and overcrowded, he reported.
“We will never reach a constitutional, sustainable jail if we do not increase the staff,” France said in the hearing.
According to logs obtained by The Marshall Project – Jackson, dispatchers responded to at least 121 assaults, one stabbing, and 29 aggravated assaults which involved the use of a weapon, in the facility in 2025.
Last year, eight people died in the jail, and one of those deaths was ruled a homicide, according to documents obtained by The Marshall Project – Jackson. In April 2025, 37-year-old Anthony Johnson was found unresponsive in his cell after being assaulted. Three people have been charged in connection with his death.
At least four more people have died in the facility this year.
Tracking immigration enforcement in Mississippi
The privately run Adams County Correctional Center in Mississippi is among the largest ICE detention facilities. People from across the country are held there ahead of possible deportation. But the number of detainees has recently dropped sharply, according to Mississippi Today and The New York Times. With the ability to hold up to 2,500 people, the facility was holding 1,400 people during an April tour, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, told the news outlets.
Nationally, detention numbers have not decreased. A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement denied any intent to close the facility.
The news outlets are reporting in partnership about immigration enforcement and detention in Mississippi. They have interviewed Thompson about his visits to the Adams County facility and probed the scant details about the death of a person held there.
Elsewhere in Mississippi, two brothers from the Republic of the Congo who were attending a public high school on the Mississippi Gulf Coast were recently released from ICE custody after the intervention of prominent Republican officials, according to the Mississippi Free Press. Israel and Max Makoka legally came to the U.S. on student visas, but then transferred from the private boarding school in Rankin County that they initially attended. In a statement, ICE told the Mississippi Free Press the brothers were out of compliance with their visa terms.
Though they are back home with their host parents for now, the brothers still face possible deportation.
Around the state
More redistricting news. Some Mississippi Republicans have urged caution in redistricting. SuperTalk. “Mississippi faces pressure to redistrict before congressional midterms, but also real-world constraints.” Magnolia Tribune Special legislative session on redistricting will take place in Mississippi’s notorious Old Capitol, where the state’s Jim Crow Constitution was approved. Mississippi Today TMP Context: Black candidates have a “bleak” history in Mississippi Supreme Court elections. The Marshall Project
Retaliation on Death Row. There is only one woman on Mississippi’s Death Row. After speaking to a news outlet earlier this year about the restrictive conditions she faces, Lisa Jo Chamberlin believes she faced retaliation. Mother Jones
“Goon Squad” scandal yields new lawsuit. Two men who were beaten and tortured by deputies with the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department are now suing an elected member of the county’s Board of Supervisors for defamation. Mississippi Today
Immigration cooperation. Two rural Mississippi counties recently inked local cooperation agreements with ICE, allowing deputies for the departments to perform certain immigration enforcement duties. One of the sheriffs acknowledged that his department hasn’t arrested a single undocumented immigrant within the last year. The Dispatch
Too much paperwork. Jackson’s new police chief recently told the City Council that the billing system currently in use requires that she spend hours reviewing invoices. WLBT
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Mississippi Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at May 7, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mississippi Match 5 numbers from May 7 drawing
01-03-20-28-29
Check Mississippi Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from May 7 drawing
Midday: 6-9-1, FB: 0
Evening: 4-1-1, FB: 2
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from May 7 drawing
Midday: 3-9-8-8, FB: 0
Evening: 5-9-0-2, FB: 2
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 7 drawing
Midday: 09
Evening: 12
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Story continues below gallery.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Winnings of $599 or less can be claimed at any authorized Mississippi Lottery retailer.
Prizes between $600 and $99,999, may be claimed at the Mississippi Lottery Headquarters or by mail. Mississippi Lottery Winner Claim form, proper identification (ID) and the original ticket must be provided for all claims of $600 or more. If mailing, send required documentation to:
Mississippi Lottery Corporation
P.O. Box 321462
Flowood, MS
39232
If your prize is $100,000 or more, the claim must be made in person at the Mississippi Lottery headquarters. Please bring identification, such as a government-issued photo ID and a Social Security card to verify your identity. Winners of large prizes may also have the option of setting up electronic funds transfer (EFT) for direct deposits into a bank account.
Mississippi Lottery Headquarters
1080 River Oaks Drive, Bldg. B-100
Flowood, MS
39232
Mississippi Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing date. For detailed instructions and necessary forms, please visit the Mississippi Lottery claim page.
When are the Mississippi Lottery drawings held?
- Cash 3: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Cash 4: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
- Match 5: Daily at 9:30 p.m. CT.
- Cash Pop: Daily at 2:30 p.m. (Midday) and 9:30 p.m. (Evening).
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Mississippi editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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