OXFORD WEEKLY PLANET

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Stained clothing may link to dead woman found yesterday

Authorities seek public's help to ID unique shirt

Opal-Marie James, 13, of Sardis, and her dog, Lester, unearthed a potential clue today in the death of a woman found yesterday in Kelly Woods, south of Oxford. The pair discovered a plastic bag in a ditch near MS-6 around 2:00 p.m. while walking to a nearby store.

The teenager said she became frightened when she saw what looked like bloodstained clothing inside the bag and ran home to tell her mother what she had found. Her mother, Natalie James, then called 911 to report her daughter's discovery.

Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department officials have not disclosed the contents of the bag but did say one of the items inside was a torn and stained woman's long-sleeved top, pictured at right.

Sheriff's Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones said she could not confirm whether the stains on the shirt were blood until official test results are received.

Jones acknowledged that the items in the bag could be linked to the partially nude body of an unidentified woman found yesterday near the Kelly Green housing development, but said there was no known connection at this stage.

According to Jones, forensic testing will be performed on the contents of the bag to determine whether any relationship exists between the woman's body and the shirt or any other items found in the bag.

If you recognize the shirt pictured here, the YCSD asks that you contact them immediately.

By Kemper Jones at 6:11 PM