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Manhunt Mississippi

Manhunt Mississippi

Pardoned Mississippi killer says he wasn't on the run

Jackson, Mississippi (CNN) -- One of four convicted murderers whose whereabouts have been unknown since they were controversially pardoned last week by Mississippi's governor insisted Friday that he hasn't been on the run, saying he is a "changed man" who deserved to be freed.


Anthony McCray, who was convicted in a 2001 murder, said he went straight from prison Sunday to a relative's home in central Mississippi, where he has been since. He criticized the outrage over outgoing Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's decision to grant clemency to him, along with nearly 200 convicted criminals, in a final act before leaving office.

"God touched the heart of Gov. Barbour," McCray told CNN.

McCray pleaded guilty to the 2001 murder of his wife, Jennifer McCray. Even with that plea, he insisted Friday that her death was an accident.

But Judge Mike Smith, the former Pike County judge who presided over that case, said Friday that the woman's killing was not accidental. He noted that there were many witnesses, as the woman was shot from behind in a public place, a cafe.

And the victim's younger brother, Ronald Bonds, said that Barbour should be "ashamed of himself" for pardoning Anthony McCray.

"He did this for nothing," Bonds said of his former brother-in-law. "He's a coward. He shot her in the back."

All four convicted murderers who were pardoned had been serving life sentences and worked as inmate trusties at the governor's mansion, according to Suzanne Singletary, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Trusties are inmates who can receive additional rights through good behavior.

McCray said he had his own room at the mansion, getting into the program after serving 10 years in prison without any problems. During his time in Jackson, he said he did odd jobs and conversed regularly with Barbour. He added that it was understood that trusties had a much higher chance of getting pardons than those in the general prison population.

There are no known sightings of the other convicted murderers who also got pardons last week -- David Gatlin, Joseph Ozment and Charles Hooker.

McCray said Friday that he did not know the whereabouts of any of the men, whom he described as "good guys."

Authorities contacted him at his relative's house around 7 p.m. Thursday and served him a court order mandating that he appear in court January 23 and contact the attorney general's office daily, McCray said. He said he'll comply with the orders.

Earlier Thursday, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood told CNN that the state may have to issue a nationwide manhunt after the four pardoned murderers left jail and "hit the road running."

"We'll catch 'em. It's just a matter of time," Hood said.

Hinds County Circuit Court Judge Tomie Green issued a temporary injunction Wednesday forbidding the release of any more prisoners.

The four convicted murderers, plus a convicted armed robber, are required to contact prison officials on a daily basis while their fate is adjudicated.

Since Barbour took office in 2004, 222 people have been granted clemency for a wide variety of crimes.

Those who have been granted full pardons include shoplifters, rapists, burglars and embezzlers. There were also a number who were found guilty of either manslaughter or homicide, who were given unconditional pardons.

Barbour is a longtime GOP politician, serving as the chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1993 to 1997, working as an aide in the Reagan administration and taking part in the 1988 presidential campaign of George H.W. Bush. He also once had been considered one of Washington's most-powerful lobbyists.

Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/13/justice/mississippi-pardons/index.html
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