Thursday May 10,
2012
50 cents
Daily Corinthian Vol. 116, No. 113
Mostly sunny Today
Tonight
76
48
• Corinth, Mississippi • 16 pages • 1 section
Mayes claims girls are his, in-law says BY ADRIAN SAINZ AND SHEILA BURKE Associated Press
GUNTOWN — A Mississippi man killed a Tennessee mother and her teenage daughter so he could abduct two young sisters who are still missing, according to court documents filed Wednesday, and a relative says the suspect thought the two younger girls might be his daughters. The developments gave the first hint of a motive in the case that began in southwest Tennessee, stretched into Mississippi and led the FBI to put 35-year-
old Adam Christopher Mayes on its 10 Most Wanted list. Authorities said they think the missing girls, 12-year-old Alexandria and 8-year-old Kyliyah Bain, are still with Mayes nearly two weeks after he took them. Mayes’ mother-in-law told The Associated Press that Mayes thought he might be the girls’ father and it caused trouble in the marriage to her daughter, who’s jailed in the case. “She was tired of him doting on those two little girls that he claimed were his,” Josie Tate said in an exclusive phone interview with The Associated Press
on Wednesday. In an earlier interview, Tate’s daughter Bobbi Booth said Teresa Mayes suspected her husband was having an affair with Jo Ann Bain. Authorities refused to comment on the motive for the April 27 slayings and abductions at a Wednesday news conference. Mayes and his wife, Teresa, were charged in Bolivar, Tenn., on Wednesday with first-degree murder in the deaths of Jo Ann Bain and 14-year-old Adrienne Bain. Their bodies were found buried outside the Mayes’ home near Guntown, a week after they were reported missing by Jo
Ann Bain’s husband, Gary. Teresa Mayes told investigators she saw her husband kill the two in the garage at the Bain home near Whiteville, Tenn., and then she drove him, the younger girls and the bodies to Mississippi, affidavits filed in court say. The mother and older girl were killed so Mayes could take the younger sisters, the affidavit said. Federal authorities pleaded for the public’s help in finding the sisters and urged Mayes to surrender.
Civitans are cookin’ for a cause BY STEVE BEAVERS sbeavers@dailycorinthian.com
The Civitans are ready to get cooking for the children. Corinth’s Civitan Club has the grills ready to go for its 10th Annual Steak Sale on Saturday at Belk. Members will be grilling from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. near the Belk parking area. “It gets bigger and bigger every year,” said club steak sale chairman Tim Wood. “We sold almost 500 last year and would be delighted to do that again.” The steak dinner consist of an 8-ounce rib-eye steak, cole slaw, baked beans and bread for $10. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased in advance from Civitan members Tina Bugg at Trustmark Bank on Fillmore, Joe Garrett at Farm Bureau, Rick Miller at Miller Insurance or Wood at Roger’s Supermarket. Please see CIVITANS | 3
BY BRANT SAPPINGTON RIENZI — The powerful thunder of roaring cannons and the refined swish of ladies in hoop skirts will return to Rienzi as the community
Auditor confirms embezzlement investigation Staff reports
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
The Civitan Club will have its 10th Annual Steak Sale Saturday at Belk. Belk Site Manager Linda Hastings (from left), and Civitans Tim Wood and Tina Bugg display a barbecue set that will be given away during the event which helps the club fund its many community projects.
Rienzi plans re-enactment, other events bsappington@dailycorinthian.com
Adam Mayes
Please see MAYES | 3
marks the 150th anniversary of the historic Battle of Rienzi. Mayor Walter Williams said plans have been in the works for months for the huge event and they expect to see reenactors and visitors from through-
out the southeast as they commemorate this historic anniversary. Reenactors are already beginning to arrive in town as they prepare for a full weekend of history and excitement.
Activities begin on Friday with a full day of programs for area school children. The camps will open to the public at 9 a.m. on Saturday Please see RIENZI | 5
Staff photo by Steve Beavers
Phenomenal Decorations Isaiah Perry (left) and Kamisha Edmond decorate center pieces for the Boys & Girls Club Gala that will name the 2012 Phenomenal Woman of the Year on Saturday night at the Crossroads Arena. A reception is set to kickoff things at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and the program at 7. Tickets for the event are $15 and can be purchased at the Boys & Girls Club or by calling 662-286-2808. Related photo, Page 3.
The office of the Mississippi state auditor confirms that it has an active investigation regarding possible school district embezzlement in Alcorn County. Lisa Shoemaker, a spokeswoman for the auditor’s office, said details will not be discussed, including which of the two local school districts is involved, before the investigation reaches a resolution. That could be upon an arrest or a demand issued by the auditor. “It’s always possible, too, that we investigate something and don’t find anything,” said Shoemaker. The auditor’s office recently announced the indictment of a Lee County School District employee, Randy Thweatt, on two counts of embezzlement. “This is one of several cases the State Auditor’s Office is working involving school district employees allegedly embezzling,” State Auditor Stacey Pickering said in a news release about that indictment.
The Alliance thanks members with activities For the Daily Corinthian
The Alliance is planning activities aimed at showing their appreciation to their membership with a week-long celebration May 14-18. The Alliance is the umbrella organization encompassing chamber of commerce, economic development, community development, Main Street and Keep Corinth Alcorn Beautiful efforts for Corinth and Alcorn County, The events start on Tuesday, May 15 with “Treat Yourself Tuesday” from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Alliance members in the personal care field will be giving massages and other treatments meant to make the day a bit more relaxing. Lunch prepared by Alliance member restaurants Please see ALLIANCE | 3
Index Stocks........7 Classified...... 13 Comics...... 12 Wisdom...... 11
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On this day in history 150 years ago
Weather........5 Obituaries........ 3 Opinion........4 Sports........8
“With a view to harassing the enemy,” Gen. Beauregard orders rockets to be fired into the sky east of Corinth throughout the night. They were fired at specific intervals and in groups of up to four to give the appearance of communicating an attack.
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