Woodland Man Charged With Capital Murder in Houston Case

HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) — DNA evidence leads to an arrest in a April stabbing death that shocked the Houston area in Chickasaw County.

Gregory

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy James Meyers says 32-year-old Mitchell Gregory of Woodland is charged with capital murder. He is accused of stabbing 75-year-old Shorty Bevill to death in his home on Aberdeen Road April 15.

Chickasaw County and Houston Police investigators believe Gregory was burglarizing Bevill’s home when Bevill interrupted him and a struggle ensued.

DNA from blood at the scene helped identify Gregory, who police believe was injured in the assault.

“This is a case of a crime where DNA evidence was what we needed to make an arrest and that is why it takes so long and has to go through the process, scientific process in Jackson…go through the process with the folks at the crime lab,” Meyers said.

Gregory has a prior conviction in Clay County that landed him in the DNA database.

He remains in jail pending a court hearing Wednesday. He could face the death penalty if eventually convicted of capital murder.