TIM PRATT

STARKVILLE — A Starkville man who police say has been going door-to-door in the middle of the night and begging for money with a “sob story” about a sick daughter is now being held on charges of robbery and kidnapping.

The charges against 32-year-old Develle Henderson stem from an incident Saturday night, during which he knocked on the door of a man and his fiancée and demanded $20, Starkville Police Department Sgt. Chadd Garnett said. Henderson kept his hand in his coat pocket during the encounter, which frightened the victim, Garnett said.

“With the bulge in his pocket, the victim felt like it was more than his hand in his pocket,” Garnett said. “The victim thought it was a weapon. The suspect then demanded $20 and the victim was in fear, so he gave him the $20 so he would leave.”

Henderson then “forced” the victim to the victim’s vehicle while keeping his hand in his pocket as if he had a weapon, Garnett said, and made the victim drive him to an unknown apartment complex on the north side of town. The victim and his fiancée didn’t report the incident to police until Monday out of fear for their safety.

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TIM PRATT

The plan to extend Pat Station Road roughly three-fourths of a mile from Old West Point Road to the intersection of North Montgomery Street, Rockhill Road and Garrard Road was met with interest and some concern Monday during a public hearing at the Starkville Sportsplex.

The first phase of the project, estimated to cost $1.3 million, would see the construction of two 12-foot-wide vehicle lanes, curbs and gutters, and an 8-foot-wide concrete multi-use path on the north side of the road. The second phase could potentially include the construction of wider, four-lane boulevards at the intersections of Pat Station Road and Old West Point Road, and at the intersection of Pat Station Road and North Montgomery, Rockhill and Garrard roads. City officials also eventually hope to build a multi-use path on the south side of the road.

Resident Mary Bell was concerned because the construction of boulevards during the second phase of the project would mean work crews potentially could tear up newly paved roadway to realign the two intersections.

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The Dispatch offices will be closed Thursday. There will be no printed Wednesday edition; breaking news will continue to be posted on cdispatch.com. The Starkville Dispatch will put out a special morning edition on Thanksgiving Day.
Golden Triangle Waste Services will not pick up Thursday for the holiday. Friday will resume regular services and Thursday’s pick-ups will be picked up Saturday.
The Starkville Sanitation Department will be closed Thursday and Friday. The regular residential pick-up schedule will continue Monday.
Banks: All banks will be closed Thursday for the holiday and will resume normal business hours Friday.

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STARKVILLE — The Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the death of a hunter found shot Sunday morning near the Choctaw County line.

Douglas Marion Childs, 32, of Jeff Peay Road, was found dead shortly after 7 a.m. in a wooded area about 30 feet from Hawkins Road in western Oktibbeha County, said OCSD Chief Deputy George Carrithers. Childs and several others had been hunting in the area, Carrithers said, and one man reported hearing a gunshot and a cry of “Oh no.”

One of the hunters went to the area to investigate the gunshot and came across Childs’ body, Carrithers said. An autopsy was scheduled Sunday at the Mississippi Crime Lab in Jackson.

The Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the incident, Carrithers said. Anyone with information is encouraged to call OCSD at 662-323-2421.

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