U.S. Marshals apprehend Lamar County murder suspects | News

LAMAR COUNTY, MS (WDAM)- On Tuesday afternoon, U.S. Marshals apprehended two escaped Forrest County inmates wanted for capital murder.

Officials say information they gathered through the investigation led them to Razoo's bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. There, they found James Robert Martin and David Bass inside.

The Lamar County Sheriff's Department issued arrest warrants for the two escaped MDOC inmates on charges of capital murder Tuesday afternoon.

James Robert Martin and David Bass are suspected of stabbing to death Ada Smith, 95, on Sunday in her home in the Progress community near Purvis in Lamar County.

Evidence gathered from the scene links Martin and Bass to the break in and murder, authorities said Tuesday. The two may have also broken into other homes in the area, added authorities. It is also believed the two stole Smith's car, a white 1993 Buick Century, with a Lamar County disabled tag reading C-3899.

According to Sheriff Danny Rigel, shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday, police received a call from a family member saying Smith appeared to be the victim of a homicide. Smith was found dead inside her residence on Highway 589 just north of Purvis city limits.

Forrest County Community Work Center inmates James Robert Martin and David Bass walked away from the MDOC facility in Hattiesburg at approximately 5 p.m. Saturday. 

Martin is serving a 5-year sentence for a conviction of grand larceny in Monroe county. Bass is serving a 7-year sentence for 5 convictions of burglary from Lee County.

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