Investigator: Murder suspect was after neighbor's money - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Investigator: Murder suspect was after neighbor's money

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JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -

On the night of September 24th Lenora Edhegard was killed inside of her Rankin County home. The details of her vicious murder were revealed inside Judge Kent McDaniel's Rankin County courtroom Tuesday morning. Murder suspect Cortrell Rose admitted to investigators that he followed Edhegard into her house and killed her.

"He entered the house behind her when she came home, (he) bound her up at some point moved her from one room to the other," said Rankin County Sheriff's Department Investigator Wayne Humphreys.

Investigator Humphreys said Rose told him that he followed Edhegard into the house to steal money. Rose confessed that inside the house he bound Edhegard's feet and hands, blindfolded her, placed a Wal-Mart bag over her head and strangled her. After the murder, Rose put Edhegard's body in the trunk of her car and went to Wal-Mart.

"Then he later takes the body and while the body is in the trunk of the car he's in Wal-Mart using the victims credit cards to purchase video games and game consoles so I think this is an exceptionally heinous crime," said Rankin County District Attorney Michael Guest.

Aafram Sellers, one of Rose's appointed public defenders said he's not surprised that Rose revealed so much information to investigators.

"I can't get into the minds of my clients and say what they decide to do, apparently he was given his Miranda Rights and decided to waive them," said Sellers.

Rose will likely go before a grand jury in November. Guest said Rose could likely face the death penalty, but it's up to Edhegard's family to decide if they want to go that route.

"The evidence in this case is overwhelming, there were multiple confessions the confessions are consistent with the physical evidence which has been recovered so I believe in this case the presentation to the grand jury would just be a formality," said Guest.

In addition to being charged with capital murder, Rose is also charged with kidnapping, motor vehicle theft, possession of a firearm and failure to register as a sex offender.

Rose has a long criminal record including gratification of lust and burglary. He's also been indicted for attempted kidnapping and robbery charges.

After his arrest at the WalMart on Highway 18, Rose led police to Edhegard's body off County Line Road.

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