The Starkville Police Department arrested two men Monday in connection with the murder of Juanita Miller which took place 4 1/2 months ago. The two individuals were arrested are Devail Hudson, 26, of 2118 Landers Trailer Park and Bentore Riley,20,of 2163 Landers Trailer Park in Starkville.
According to the Starkville Daily News, Hudson was suspected early in the investigation and had been arrested on unrelated charges. Now he is being charged with Miller’s murder. Riley is being held in the Oktibbeha County Jail with his bond set for $500,000.
Miller was found severely beaten on Aug. 20 by Starkville firefighters at her home on Westside Drive. Firefighters found her when they responded to a report there at 10:25 a.m.
Investigators believe that the suspects set fire to the house in order to coverup the murder because autopsy reports showed a strong indication that Miller died from massive head trauma and not from the fire. The reports also showed that several wounds on her body indicated Miller’s attempt to fight off her attackers.
“I think that these two men are sick preying on old defenseless women,” Latoya Dean, senior said. “I feel safer knowing those scumbags are off the streets.”
If convicted, Hudson and Riley face capital charges because arson was committed in conjunction with the murder. State law says that suspects can be charged with capital murder if evidence suggests the killings occurred during the commission of another crime. If Riley and Hudson are indicted, tried and convicted, they could face a mandatory life sentence without parole or the death penalty.