Video: Bishop Sentenced To Life In Prison With No Possibility Of Parole For Traylor Murder

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Moments after entering the courtroom, 46 year old Leah Bishop , handcuffed and shackled, waved to her family and friends.

Bishop told Judge Paul Funderburk she understood the consequences of changing her plea from not guilty to guilty on a capital murder charge.

Assistant DA Josh Wise says had the case gone to trial, evidence would have shown Bishop shot 65 year old Jessie Traylor 5 times with a .22 caliber handgun on May 17, 2015,  at Traylor’s home on Rollingwood Street in south Tupelo. The two had known each other for about two weeks.

She then mutilated his body with an ax and handsaw. Bishop planned to take Traylor’s body and dump it in a remote area at Tishomingo State Park. However, when she was physically unable to move Mr Traylor, she fled in his truck, taking his credit card.

Bishop left a lengthy confession at a veterans museum in Jones County. She was arrested a few days later in Louisiana during a traffic stop and brought back to Tupelo where she has been jailed ever since.

Assistant DA Wise says the case is one of the most gruesome he’s ever seen.

“This murder is senseless and one, perhaps the most cold blooded murder I’ve ever prosecuted,” Wise said.

Before she was formally sentenced, Bishop spoke to the Traylor family.

“God reached down and found me not long after I was arrested and I know He has forgiven me I now humbly ask for forgiveness from everybody else I have hurt,” Bishop said.

Several members of Traylor’s family made brief statements.

“He was a service to his community , he loved people, he loved his community, he believed in helping, everyone, anyone who needed help,” said Carolyn Traylor Jamison, a niece of Traylor’s.

“We love the Bishop family, we love our family, and we pray God would have mercy and justice would be done,” said Douglas Baker, who is a pastor in Jackson.

Baker says he has many fond memories of his uncle, and he says the family is persevering because of their strong Christian faith.

“He was a loved man, he worked for William Transfer and Storage for almost 35 years, until his health failed, he never would harm a fly, he was a gentle giant. We are going to heal and everytime we have Christmas we gonna set a plate for Jessie,” Baker said.

Bishop was also ordered to pay court costs, along with $8,000 to a relative of Traylor’s, to help cover funeral expenses. The Traylor family also wanted to thank the Tupelo Police Department for their work on this case.