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Ole Miss students test possible Picasso collages

Submitted by Michael Clark on Monday, May 13th, 4:55 pm

OXFORD, MS- (WMC-TV) - Art students at Ole Miss have a mystery on their hands. They have two collages that could be from Picasso, and they are, they could be worth millions.

Ole Miss students are busy testing two pieces that could have been done by Pablo Picasso and Juan Gris, two famous artists from the 1900s. If the collages are a match, they could be worth between $20 million and $30 million.

"You sneeze the wrong way, you brush up against it, anything like that can be really, really nervewracking," said student Caleb Ezell.

Signature patterns appear to be similar and newspaper clippings in the collages reflect what would have been going on in the time period. The students and professors at Ole Miss are testing to find out if there could be a match.

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Damien Echols in Oxford this week

Submitted by Bernadette Davis, Freelance Writer

Monday, May 13th, 2013, 2:28pm

On Tuesday, May 14, Echols will be in Oxford promoting and signing his newly released memoir in paperback, “Life After Death.” The book chronicles his childhood and illustrates from his experience what it is like to live on death row. The book signing event takes place at Off Square Books.

Since his release from prison in 2011, Echols has visited Memphis and Nashville to promote “West of Memphis,” a documentary he produced about the “West Memphis Three” case. Click here to read more.

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Mother files wrongful death lawsuit against suspected drunk driver

Submitted by Michael Clark on Friday, May 10th, 6:32 pm

Sarah and John Wheat died when police say John Howard Strickland, Jr. crossed the median and hit their car in late October 2012.

OXFORD, MS- (WMC-TV) - A mother wants justice in the death of her two children, who were killed in an accident in Oxford last year.

Frances Wheat filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the man suspected of driving drunk, causing the crash that killed her kids. The lawsuit also names the man's parents.

Sarah and John Wheat died when police say John Howard Strickland, Jr. crossed the median and hit their car in late October 2012. Toxicology results showed alcohol and other illegal substances in his system.

Strickland is charged with two counts of aggravated DUI.

In the wrongful death lawsuit, Strickland's parents are also named as defendants because documents allege they entrusted their son with a vehicle knowing he had a previous DUI conviction from January 2012

The Strickland's law firm in Jackson, Mississippi did not return Action News 5's phone calls on Friday, but in the response to the lawsuit, they denied the claims.

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Body of missing teen found in Yocona River

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013, 10:14am

(WMC-TV) - The body of the missing 19-year-old teen has been found in the Yocona River, according to LaFayette officials.

Stephen Emerick was last seen one week ago. He left work early because he was sick, according to officials.

Surveillance video caught him at two Walmart stores on the way home. His truck was found by the Yocona River not far from his house on Tuesday. His wallet and cell phone were found inside.

Check back with WMCTV.com for more details as this story develops.

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Oxford makes changes to a historical marker

Submitted by Bernadette Davis, Freelance Writer

Monday, May 6th, 2013, 3:09pm

The new marker was installed in front of Oxford City Hall in place of the 1951 plaque. Oxford City Hall staff said the original plaque did not detail the history of Oxford sufficiently and was in need of repair. The information on the new marker has been approved by the department for historical accuracy. Click here to read more.

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Ricin letter suspect held without bond

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Thursday, May 2nd, 2013, 4:26pm

OXFORD, MS- (WMC-TV) - A judge found probable cause to hold James Everett Dutschke in jail without bond.

Investigators believe Dutschke, 41, sent ricin-laced letters to President Barack Obama, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, and a Mississippi judge. He waived his right to a bond hearing in court Thursday.

The Tupelo man's DNA was found on a mask in a trash can outside his martial arts studio. Traces of ricin were also found on the mask. A box for a coffee grinder was also found. The FBI surveillance team says they watched as he threw the items away. He was under surveillance even while former suspect Kevin Curtis was in court.

The initial affidavit says the FBI also found ricin inside Dutschke's martial arts studio. The affidavit also said numerous documents found in his home had printer markings that were similar to ones on the letters.

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Second ricin suspect makes first court appearance

Submitted by Michael Clark on Monday, April 29th, 5:07 pm

OXFORD, MS- (WMC-TV) - The second man arrested in connection with the ricin-laced letters sent to the president and other officials appeared in court for the first time Monday.

James Everett Dutschke appeared in federal court in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs.

He is accused of producing the ricin that was sent to President Obama, Senator Roger Wicker, and a local judge in Lee County.

As James Everett Dutschke sits in jail in Oxford, he is charged with producing a biological agent.

Antonio Jiminez saw the swarm of FBI agents searching Dutschke's home in their ricin investigation last week.

"It scared me because I have my young ones over here, you know," said Jiminez.

Dutschke was arrested and charged over the weekend. Documents remained sealed, so it is unclear exactly what authorities found.

Hal Nielson is a former FBI profiler in north Mississippi. He worked with Chriti McCoy to defend former suspect Kevin Curtis.

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