Ben Hawkins (Source: JPD)JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
What began as an emergency call for an unresponsive person in a Jackson home last week, is now being investigated as a double homicide after a pregnant woman was found dead in the residence.
According to Jackson Police Public Information Officer Colendula Green, officers were called to a home on the 2000 block of Teresa Drive on Jan. 11, in reference to an unresponsive individual.
Green says when police arrived, they discovered a deceased female within the home. The woman was identified as 31-year-old Darlene Day. An autopsy revealed that Day, who was pregnant at the time of her death, was murdered. The unborn child also died.
Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart confirms the cause of death for Darlene Day was officially ruled a homicide by strangulation, and six days after Day's murder, police arrested her live-in boyfriend, 50-year-old Ben Hawkins.
Hawkins, who has no local criminal history, was arrested and charged with two counts of murder Thursday afternoon. One count in connection to Day's death and the second for the death of Day's unborn child. He is being held with no bond.
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