A Bogue Chitto man accused of killing eight people, including a Lincoln County deputy, was denied bond Tuesday afternoon in Copiah County Justice Court.
Willie Cory Godbolt, 35, went before Judge Roger Martin for his initial appearance.
He was charged with one count of capital murder and seven counts of first-degree murder.
Godbolt is accused of killing Lincoln County Deputy William Durr, 35, Barbara Mitchell, 55, Tocarra May, 35, Brenda May, 53, Ferral Burage, 45, Shelia Burage, 46, Austin Edwards, 11, and Jordan Blackwell, 17, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations spokesperson Warren Strain said.
The Daily Leader reports Godbolt allegedly opened fire around 11:30 p.m. Saturday at 2871 Lee Drive where Durr, Mitchell, the younger May and the older May were killed.
Godbolt went to a home on Coopertown Road where he allegedly killed the two juveniles, Edwards and Blackwell.
There, Godbolt allegedly took Xavier Lilly hostage, but freed him before going to a home on East Lincoln Road.
Lipsey Middle School principal and Lilly’s grandmother Rita Robinson told the Daily Leader that Lilly saw on a movie that if someone holds you hostage you should keep the person talking.
“He said the guy was just irrational and acting paranoid. They talked about Xbox. They talked about God. They talked about Jesus,” Robinson told the Leader.
“He talked and talked and talked for four hours while they drove around,” she said.
Robinson said Lilly told her that Godbolt put him out of the car before heading to the Burage home on East Lincoln Road, where he allegedly killed the Burages.
He was apprehended by law enforcement near Super Jack’s at the intersection of East Lincoln Road and Highway 84.
Godbolt told Clarion-Ledger reporter Therese Appel that he went to the home to talk to his wife about getting their children. He said he was sorry about killing Durr and that his estranged wife’s family intervened in his business with his wife.
“That’s what they do, they intervene,” he said.
When asked Godbolt what was next for him, Godbolt said, “Death. Because in y’all’s eyes and they eyes (law enforcement) I ain’t fit to live. But God, God heals all.”
Authorities said that Godbolt was believed to have been walking away from the home where the Burages lived.
Strain said Godbolt had been shot in the arm, and it’s likely someone in one of the homes shot him.
“We are working closely with all law enforcement agencies involved,” 14th Circuit District Attorney Dee Bates said in a press release.
“Once the investigation has been completed, the case will be presented to the Lincoln County Grand Jury for consideration. All persons are entitled to a fair and impartial day in court and are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Bates went on to say, “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to all families involved in this horrific tragedy. We are working closely with the families of all of the victims that were involved. We would also like to commend all law enforcement agencies that have handled this tragic incident with the utmost professionalism.”
Godbolt’s brother Chris Godbolt Jr. issued a statement on his Facebook page.
“Willie Godbolt my dear brother! My heart is angered by the lost of lives suffered by your hands, my faith is shook at the fact you took Jordan and Austin from this earth. I suffer in disbelief when I remembered how Shelia was an important part of our lives both as kids and adults. My spirit is weak at the fact that you took the lives of Faye, Brenda, and TuTu, my mind can’t process how at your hands the May Durr and Burage families are suffering an unimaginable lost!”
“You took away some very special people in our small community and for that I gives my deepest condolences to their family. I have watched, waited and tried comfort not only my family but as many as I can, not to try and rationalize or justify your actions, cause there is no EXCUSE for what you did. I’m heartbroken and I offer my condolences my sympathy most importantly my prayers to victims of your inexcusable actions! I love you my brother!! Only love can drive out hate! I love those lost, I love the victims family and I love Bogue Chitto!! I ask on the part of the Godbolt family for forgiveness from all your victims and I pray God sends his comforter to cover each of them.”
