Double Slaying Suspect Confesses
April 29, 2022
According to the Newton Appeal,
https://www.newtoncountyappeal.com/double-homicide-case-heads-grand-jury#sthash.V7YO50DG.dpbs
Shaunna Reynolds and Austin Harrell, arrested in the double slaying of Breanna Strickland Stokes, 26, of Union, and Kaitlyn Goolsby, 21 of Sebastopol, Mississippi, will be presented before a Grand Jury next month in Newton, County.
Shaunna Reynolds waived her right to a Preliminary hearing (a sort of mini-trial where evidence against a suspect can be presented before a judge, and the judge determines if there is enough evidence to proceed).
Brett Maze reported that Judge Justin Chaney determined there was enough evidence to send Harrell, 27, to a Grand Jury.
Harrell is also charged with felony arson, in connection to a burned truck believed to have been used in the murders, discovered in the Whynot Community of Lauderdale, County. Muddy Mississippi Justice was able to e-mail this tip to Sheriff Joedy Pennington,
On March 4, 2022, Stokes and Goolsby's bodies were discovered by an undisclosed female on Choctaw tribal lands, at a dump site close to the intersection of Mac and McDill Road in the Conehatta Community. Decomposition was evident due to the murders being committed on February 25th.
The Newton Appeal reported that according to Harrell's statement, with Harrell driving, Harrell and Reynolds left Sebastopol headed to Philadelphia to pick Goolsby and Strickland up from a hotel off Highway 16. On the way to Philadelphia, they stopped at a Dollar General in Sebastopol and bought two box cutters.
Arriving in Philadelphia, they picked up Goolsby and Stokes, and all four of them headed back toward Sebastopol. They made a sudden stop on Highway 21 in Neshoba, County, where Stokes, still in the truck, was murdered by being stabbed in the neck with what is believed to be one of the box cutters purchased at Dollar General in Sebastopol.
With Stokes dead body still in the truck, Harrell, Reynolds, and Goolsby headed to a dump site in the Conehatta Community near Mac/McDill road.
Once they arrived at the dump site, they ushered Goolsby out of the truck and had her sit on a cushion, and then proceeded to slash her throat.
Leaving both deceased bodies at the dump site, Harrell and Reynolds had three weeks to dispose of any evidence, including burning the truck they most likely used in the commission of the crime.
An undisclosed individual tipped Muddy Mississippi Justice that Reynolds and Harrell were about to be arrested in their hide-out in Newton, MS when police were able to ping a new cell phone that was arranged to be given to Reynolds.
Tanya Gatewood, Harrell's mother, has been charged with Accessory After the Fact. Accessory after the fact is a crime committed by helping an individual who has committed a crime, escape or avoid arrest or assist them in some way in covering up a crime the accessor was aware they committed.
Reynolds and Harrel are both charged with capital murder, which can bring the death penalty.
Its likely one will try and testify against the other in exchange for life in prison.
https://www.newtoncountyappeal.com/double-homicide-case-heads-grand-jury#sthash.V7YO50DG.dpbs
