FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT

Major Lafayette Woods, Jr.

Operation Commander/Public Information Officer

870.541.5351-OFFICE/870.329.5652-CELL

Email: lafayette.woods@jeffcoso.org

JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATORS MAKE EARLY MORNING ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH FRIDAY'S DOUBLE HOMICIDE: Jefferson County, Arkansas - July 12, 2014-A Mississippi man identified as William Cody Childress (21) has been arrested in connection with Friday morning’s discovery of the bodies of Anthony Branch (62) and Deborah Moncrief (58) inside a Jefferson County residence.

The bodies of Anthony Branch (62) and Deborah Moncrief (58) were found inside Moncrief’s residence located in the 6300 block of Cowboy Drive in a seemingly quiet neighborhood off Ray Road in Jefferson County, Arkansas just after 6:30 a.m. on Friday, July 11, 2014.

At the time, it was not immediately clear to investigators exactly who was responsible and/or involved in the double homicide.  However, investigators began the painstaking task of processing the crime scene and collecting evidence through the early morning of Friday, July 11, 2014.  Multiple interviews with family members, friends, and neighbors were conducted along with investigators following up on multiple leads. 

Friday evening investigators located Childress and his fiancée, Jessica Moncrief (23), who is also Deborah Moncrief’s niece.  Following a custodial interview with Childress, where he was advised of his constitutional rights per Miranda, Childress led investigators to the weapon believed to have been used in the double homicide.  Childress was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the homicidal deaths Branch and Moncrief.  Childress is currently being held without bond at the W.C. “Dub” Brassell Jefferson County Adult Detention Center as the investigation continues.

“It is believed that Childress is the sole participant in the murders and the motive appears to have been over money.  It definitely was not random or an accident.  It appears that the double homicide was targeted.”