JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – After nearly four decades, a murder mystery may finally be solved.
In 1986, the kidnapping and death of Shondra May shocked residents of Scott County and beyond.
Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee says investigators are the closest they’ve ever come to solving the case.
It’s been a long time coming for May’s family.
For more than 38 years, Tim May has lived in agony not knowing who kidnapped, raped and killed his sister – emotions still raw whenever it comes up.
“People often thought we were fraternal twins because we were very similar in height and age,” he said.
He was 18 and Shondra was 17 in February 1986 when she left work at the McDonald’s on Highway 35 in Forest.
She started north towards home, but never quite made it to the end.
Her car was found abandoned on the gravel road leading to the driveway, with her purse still inside.
Tim May worked at a grocery store in Carthage.
“Mom called and told me, ‘Shondra’s missing.’ We found the car, but we can’t find her,” Tim described.
For three grueling weeks, people searched for his sister but found no trace until a fisherman found her naked, bound body wrapped in garbage bags in a river in Hinds County.
There were no signs of serious trauma, but she had suffered sexual violence.
Years passed and there were no solid suspects or leads.
In 2021’s “3 On Your Side” you told the story of a group of retired investigators who came together, determined to solve the case.
Sheriff Lee says they worked with MBI and others to re-examine the evidence.
They also re-interviewed old witnesses, which led to new information and possibly solving a decades-old case.
“Time, science and witness testimony have helped us get this far,” said Sheriff Lee.
It doesn’t say who these witnesses are or what they told investigators to solve the case after all these years.
He also does not provide the name of a potential suspect.
But all of this is enough to bring something into Shondra’s family that has been elusive for decades.
“Closing…” Tim May said. “My mother died without knowing what happened. My father died not knowing what happened. I am this.”
And so we wait for the arrest.
If and when that happens, WLBT will be there to get the details on what happened to Shondra May.
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