Suspect arrested in socialite murder

Additional arrests possible? Oxonians were shocked by the arrest of a popular local pharmacist in the October 30 murder of socialite Kelly Moran. Lorraine Estrada, 39, was taken into custody yesterday at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department following an extended interview with the investigating detectives. Yoknapatawpha County assistant district attorney Russell Moran discovered his wife's body when he returned home from work that Thursday evening in October. Initially, Kelly Moran was thought to have been the victim of a burglary gone wrong, but subsequent investigation cast...

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Do you know this person?

Neighbor's security camera captures potential witness in socialite slaying The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department has released a video of what could be a witness in the Kelly Moran homicide investigation. The video, captured by a private security camera on St. Andrews Circle the night Oxford socialite Kelly Moran was found dead, shows a person walking not far from the Moran residence near the time Kelly Moran is believe to have died. If you have any information about the person in the video, you're asked to contact the sheriff's department at crimescene.com. Neighborhood...

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Correcting mistakes

In this edition: stylist sorrow… rose-colored regrets… and a Halloween treat for grown-ups Greetings, peeps! The View from the Behind the Chair is the only place you'll hear the things women only tell their hairdressers. In the first chair, a woman who deeply regrets going to one of the lesser salons makes up for her bad decision by letting slip that we can expect to see a glorious end-of-season sale at Talon Notch. Ladies, flex those ankles — it's nearly time to go shoe shopping! In the second chair, someone recently interviewed by the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department wonders...

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Are investigators stumped already?

The pressure is on as the sheriff's department seeks leads in the slaying of ADA's wifeAs the sun sets on the first full day of the investigation into the shocking murder of Oxford socialite Kelly Moran, the sheriff's department remains mum about what leads they're pursuing to capture her killer.Investigators have spoken to residents throughout the tony enclave where Moran lived and died, while detectives have reportedly been having heart-to-hearts with members of Moran's inner circle.But has all of that talking generated any leads? The sheriff's department won't say."It's still early in the investigation,"...

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Truth and consequences

The Face in the Mirror has all the dish! In this edition: rebounding with a vengeance… woe and worry… and a heads-up for your Halloween hijinks Greetings, peeps! The View from the Behind the Chair is the only place you'll hear the things women only tell their hairdressers. In the first chair, a shopgirl with luscious locks tells me a recently dumped doyenne is putting the "vamp" in revamping her wardrobe. When her ex sees her new look, he may have second thoughts about that nubile naif who turned his head, but all the signs say it's too late for that lothario. Stay on your toes,...

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Socialite found dead

Foul play suspected Halloween got off to a grisly start when Kelly Moran, 40, was found dead in her Muirfield Drive home last night. Her body was discovered by her husband, Russell Moran, when he arrived home from the Yoknapatawpha County District Attorney's Office where he is employed. Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's spokeswoman Elizabeth Jones said Mrs. Moran's death appears to be a homicide, but declined to say exactly how she died. An autopsy will be performed today. Crime scene investigators are still processing the scene. No known enemies Kelly Moran, originally of Miami, Florida,...

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Former suspect talks about killer's arrest

Hughes talks only to the OWP about the arrest of his girlfriend's killer Hughes speaks out on Drum murder arrest Exclusive interview Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's officials announced Friday morning that former Oxford Eagle pressman David Ledford has been arrested for the murder of Eagle managing editor Monica Drum. Eagle city reporter Rick Hughes had been under a cloud of suspicion until Ledford's arrest and even went into hiding for weeks after the murder, reaching out to the public through the Planet to proclaim his innocence. After the announcement of the arrest, we contacted Rick...

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Sheriff takes down Rep. Edward Hagen

Is this just the tip of the iceberg? Rep. Hagen in happier times It seems the long-standing rumors of high-stakes poker games held at The Rebel Yell for the elite who can afford it are true. The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department arrested Big Jack Rowan and Congressman Edward Hagen Sunday, Big Jack for hosting the games and Hagen for playing in them. Sources who were there tell us that Sheriff Taylor Sheldon himself was there to slap the cuffs on Hagen personally. Sheriff's spokesperson Elizabeth Jones said the evidence against Hagen and Big Jack was found during an unrelated investigation....

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An Open Letter to the Oxford Public from Rick Hughes

Hughes denies involvement in girlfriend's murder Dear Friends and Supporters: Many of you have wondered why I have not responded publicly to the allegations that I may have been involved to some extent in the murder of Monica Drum. There is more to this story than meets the eye, and most of it is not easy for me to talk about. Melvin Roberts's recent confession adds a new chapter to the investigation, but I am convinced that the public at large needs to hear my side of the story. Therefore, I now take this opportunity to answer such charges and rumors with the most potent weapon that I have...

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Store Owner Confesses to Editor's Shooting

Did karma finally get the Eagle's firebrand editor? The YCSD released this mug shot of Melvin Roberts Those of us who travel into Oxford and back have often stopped at Melvin's Nite Owl, the monolith of a convenience store located at the intersection of Highway 30 and North Lamar Avenue, at the north gateway into the town. Owned by Melvin "Coach" Roberts for almost thirty years, the store grew from a small operation into a major competitor to Kroger and other grocery stores with its constant flow of traffic. Much of that changed after 2014, when Roberts was falsely accused of rape by a...

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When the News-Makers Become the News

Monica Drum, the late managing editor of the Oxford Eagle Oxford newspaper gets embroiled in its own story What happens when the news-makers become the news? What happens when those who write the stories suddenly turn into the story itself? Such a quandary is developing in Oxford right now, where Rick Hughes, a city reporter for town newspaper The Oxford Eagle, is reportedly being sought for questioning in the murder of Monica Drum, the paper's managing editor. Drum was found shot in her office on Sunday morning around 3:15 a.m. by security guard Ernie Parrish and YCSD officer A. L. Quinlan....

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How did Wendell Martinson die?

What is the Sheriff's Department hiding? The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department has yet to tell us how Pastor Wendell Martinson was murdered. People who've seen the room where Martinson was killed say it was a bloody mess, but the ones who talked to us hadn't seen Martinson's body so they didn't know what kind of injuries he had. Why won't the YCSD tell us what happened? Are they protecting someone? Most Oxonians are familiar with the location of the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit church, and nobody just happens to be passing by that spot. If you're at that church, you meant...

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Victor Jennings death ruled a homicide

Duh. The late, not-so-lamented Victor Jennings Yesterday, the YCSD finally acknowledged what we suspected all along. Victor Jennings was murdered. The Sheriff's PIO Elizabeth Jones made the announcement yesterday in a late afternoon, low-key press conference. Jones said the coroner found the cause of death was a single stab wound, but wouldn't give any more details about the fatal injury or the murder weapon. Sounds like the YCSD still has a few cards they're waiting to play on this one. Of course, Victor Jennings was on house arrest, awaiting trial for extorting Michael and Samantha Hawke....

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Hollywood comes to Oxford

Will local businesses profit?Samantha & Michael Hawke walk the red carpet at the  Oxford Film FestivalLots of Oxonians have reported seeing Hollywood movie stars Michael and Samantha Hawke in town in recent days. The celebrity couple known as "Sammich" are said to be in town scouting Oxford as a possible location for Michael Hawke's upcoming film, My Segregation.According to director Wes Thomas, the film is hoping for a 2020 release date and is tentatively scheduled to begin filming in May."It's going to be a period piece set in the '50s," explained Thomas. "Luckily, John Grisham...

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