Mississippi teen accused of capital murder knew victims, court hears
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A Mississippi teenager knew the elderly couple he is accused of killing before falling out with law enforcement, according to new court testimony.
Cordarius Hobbs, 17, killed Billy Blair, 74, and his wife, Virginia Carol Blair, 71, during a break-in at a home in Mendenhall, Mississippi, on June 3, authorities said. Hobbs’ family members testified at a preliminary hearing Thursday that Hobbs knew the couple.
Family members testified that Hobbs worked for the Blairs on tasks such as cleaning up the house before the alleged shooting. WAPT. Hobbs’ grandfather, Billy Newsome, said he believes his grandson was called to work the day of the alleged shooting, but that he believes he is innocent.
“My grandson was working for that man, why would you go rob the man you were working for,” Newsome said. “Why did you go stay there that long and you know there were police there and then you went and waited until everyone was there to run away, that doesn’t make sense, there’s something wrong here.”
MISSISSIPPI YOUNG ALLEGEDLY KILLED AN ELDERLY COUPLE IN THEIR HOME BEFORE SHOOTING AT DEPUTY LAWERS
Billy Blair and Virginia Blair were killed on June 3. (Family Statement)
According to a Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigator, three contractors installing a generator at the Blair family home on June 3 noticed Carol Blair’s car door open with several guns on the seats around 10 a.m., prompting them to call the Simpson County Sheriff’s Department for a welfare check at 11:30 a.m.
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At noon, the investigator said, officers arrived and were fired upon, starting a nearly two-hour firefight. Hobbs was captured after he tried to run away from officers, the official said, adding that the teen was unarmed when he was captured.
Carol Blair was found curled up in a fetal position in her bedroom and shot three times in the back of her head. Bill Blair was found lying on his back in the kitchen with three gunshot wounds to his face.
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Cordarius Hobbs faces murder charges as well as several felonies. (Rankin County Jail)
The state investigator said three firearms and 280 bullet casings were found in the home, all belonging to Bill Blair.
Hobbs’ defense attorney, Zachary Vaugh, argued there was no direct forensic evidence linking the teen to the shooting.
“There was nothing to say he was a principle, he was the one pulling the trigger on these matters,” Vaugh said. “Just the thing is, one of the victims was shot twice on one side of the head and once on the other side. I think it’s pretty convincing that there could have been someone else there. There’s a lot of things that are possible, just a tremendous amount of things.”
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“When a police officer says there was no one who could identify him at the time of the shooting, I don’t see how that makes sense,” he said.
Hobbs is charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of burglary, among 10 other charges. Connection denied.
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Cordarius Hobbs allegedly killed both Billy Blair and Virginia Blair. (Rankin County Jail)
The couple’s family had previously said in a statement on Facebook, “Our souls are crushed, wounded and our hearts are broken, but we are not alone.”
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Jason Busby, a friend of the couple, recalled that they were extremely selfless when talking to the couple. WLBT.
“The guy would take his shirt off on you, and so would his wife, and they’re great people. It’s just a tragedy,” Busby said. “Everyone here is still in shock. They were just good people.”
