Indianola, MS— District Attorney Dewayne Richardson announced today that Marquavis Minton, 26 yoa, pled guilty to his role in the March 27, 2017 murder of Annie Ruth Johnson in Sunflower, MS. Marquavis Minton’s trial was set to begin this week in Sunflower County Circuit Court, however Marquavis Minton pled guilty and he will be sentenced at a later date.
On March 27, 2017, deputies and other law enforcement officers with various agencies responded to a call of Ms. Johnson being found unresponsive in her home. The case was originally investigated by the Sunflower Police Department and the Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department, but once the identity of the victim was determined, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations took over the investigation due to Ms. Johnson being related to the Sheriff of Sunflower County. Following a thorough and around the clock investigation by MBI agents, Lazirric Minton, Marquavis Minton and Terry Holston were all arrested and charged with Capital Murder for the death of Ms. Johnson.
Marquavis Minton chose to plead guilty to the lesser included crime of Manslaughter and also to the crime of Burglary of a Dwelling in lieu of going to trial this week. He will be sentenced at a later date during this term of court following the conclusion of his remaining co-defendant, Terry Holston’s trial.
Terry Holston remains charged with Capital Murder for his role in Annie Ruth Johnson’s death. His case has been severed from the other defendants and he will be tried separately. Terry Holston is scheduled to be tried during the week of July 5.
Lazirric Minton, who pled in 2022 for his role in Annie Ruth Johnson’s death was also sentenced in Circuit Court this week. Lazirric Minton previously admitted his role in Annie Ruth Johnson’s death and for that he was sentenced to the State’s recommendation of 40 years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections as 35 of those years to be served in prison and 5 years to be served on post release supervision. Under Mississippi law, Lazirric Minton will serve every day of his sentence without any opportunity for early release or parole.
The case against the Mintons was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Takiyah H. Perkins and District Attorney W. Dewayne Richardson. Perkins expresses her appreciation for the hard work of the Sunflower Police Department, Sunflower County Sheriff’s Department. Sunflower County Coroner’s Office, Indianola Police Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations. As all agencies worked hand in hand to expeditiously seek justice for Ms. Annie Ruth Johnson.
The District Attorney’s Office appreciates the patience and understanding of the Johnson Family during the judicial process. D.A, Richardson added that our hearts go out to the Johnson Family, Ms. Johnson deserved to live out her days without the fear of violence. We hope that now that Lazirric Minton and Marquavis Minton have answered for their actions that they can begin to heal and feel a sense of closure and justice for Ms. Johnson.