Women Die in Police Custody | Jackson Free Press | Jackson, MS

Women Die in Police Custody

My friggin' word. Everyone please remember that Mississippi is the most dangerous state for women. What are we going to about it?

Ledge: The recent deaths of two women while in police custody are being investigated by state law enforcement agencies.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is looking into the death of Mary Jeffries Malone, 53, of Holly Springs. Malone died Oct. 1 while in the custody of local law enforcement agencies in Marshall County.

The Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol is also investigating the death of Debbie Loggins, 33, of North Carrollton. Loggins died Sept. 17 after being found unconscious in the back of a deputy's car.

Patricia Selman, Holly Springs police chief, said the Malone autopsy was completed Monday, but results could not be released until a toxicology report is finished.

Previous Comments

ID
171808
Comment

I can't really get a handle on that. What the hell is going on here?

Author
Lori G
Date
2005-10-06T10:53:51-06:00
ID
171809
Comment

I don't know what's going. But we need like hell to find out. Reminds me of a case in Neshoba County when I was a kid when a young woman (a grown cousin, I think) was run off the road and killed by a constable who people believed were trying to kill her. Nothing was ever investigated to my knowledge, but the memory of her lying in the casket has stayed with me.

Author
ladd
Date
2005-10-06T13:38:25-06:00
ID
171810
Comment

I assume The Clarion-Ledger will be following up with a Pulitzr Prize-winning investigation on this. Snort.

Author
ladd
Date
2005-10-06T13:39:16-06:00
ID
171811
Comment

This is really disturbing. Depending on what the autopsy shows, the story the police chief gives for Malone might be true (an autopsy would conclusively show whether or not she had been beaten)--but something smells rotten in the Loggins story.

Author
Tom Head
Date
2005-10-06T14:05:36-06:00
ID
171812
Comment

How can you just "find" somebody unconscious in the back of a police car?

Author
Steph
Date
2005-10-07T12:32:54-06:00
ID
171813
Comment

Oh, Steph, I don't know. I once went to Baltimore and "found" a bag of weed in my room at the hotel. 'Course that begged the question of WHO THE HELL PUT IT THERE? ;) It was later discovered to be the maid. It was the maid, in the hotel room, with a bag of weed. This time I'm placing bets on it being a law enforcement officer, in North Carrollton, with a history of violence towards women.

Author
Lori G
Date
2005-10-07T12:45:17-06:00
ID
171814
Comment

Ali, I share your suspicions about the Loggins death. Generally speaking, finding a dead woman in a police officer's trunk is a bad sign. These guys should be given the opportunity to tell their side of the story--in a court of law. Cheers, TH

Author
Tom Head
Date
2005-10-07T13:50:22-06:00

Support our reporting -- Follow the MFP.