Greenville Man Sentenced for 2016 Murder

Greenville, MS – John Lee Eanes pled guilty to the November 2016 murder of Sophia White on August 13, 2019. He pled guilty prior to trial in front of Circuit Court Judge Carol White-Richard. Eanes, who at the time of his guilty plea was 77 years of age, was convicted of the crime of Second Degree Murder and sentenced to twenty years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Eanes will have to serve fifteen years of that sentence in prison.

Sophia White was initially reported missing to the Greenville Police Department by family members in December of 2016. An investigation by the Greenville Police and her family led them to make contact with Eanes, who was a friend of the victim. Officers spoke with Eanes and he confessed to killing White after an argument over a card game. While speaking with officers, Eanes admitted to stabbing White multiple times with a knife. Officers recovered a large amount of forensic evidence at his home in Greenville linking him to the murder of White. Eanes ultimately led officers to a rural part of Washington County where he had hidden White’s body days before.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys John Herzog Jr. Kaylon McCou, and Austin Frye. Herzog said that “to describe the killing of Sophia White as brutal does not do justice to the way in which Ms. White was murdered by John Eanes and the way in which he disposed of her body.

The murder of White could not have been solved without her family members, who never ceased looking for her, and the investigation that was conducted by the Greenville Police Department. “Justice for Ms. White would have been denied had the family not worked so hard to solve her disappearance and murder with the help of the Greenville Police Department.” Herzog said.

Contact: W. Dewayne Richardson District Attorney, Fourth Circuit Court District | 662-378-2105

Breaking News

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RANDOLYN FAINT SENTENCED FOR DOUBLE HOMICIDE

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MARSHALL GIVEN 20 YEAR SENTENCE FOR DEADLY DUI

Indianola, MS- Christopher Marshall, 27 yoa, was convicted of three (3) counts of Aggravated DUI in Sunflower County Circuit Court following his guilty pleas on Monday, of this week. Around 8:45 pm on Saturday, May 5, 2018, first responders of […]... read more

3rd

February

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LAFAYETTE SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN 2019 DEATH

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resources

Attorney General

www.ago.state.ms.us

MDOC

www.ms.gov

Federal Prisoners

www.bop.gov

Sex Offender Registry

state.sor.dps.ms.gov

AG Victim Unit

www.ago.state.ms.us

Our Mission

The mission of the District Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Circuit Court, under the direction of
W. Dewayne Richardson, is to seek justice in order to maintain an environment of safety, security and lawful behavior for the citizens of the Fourth District.

The Office of the District Attorney uses lawful and reasonable methods to successfully identify and prosecute those who commit felony crimes. When a crime occurs, the Office of the District Attorney diligently pursues the indictment and conviction of those responsible, while adhering to all rights of the Victim, ensuring the victim is being provided all direct services applicable, and acknowledging all constitutional safeguards for the accused.

The District Attorney’s Office for the Fourth
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Greenville Office
P.O. Box 426
Greenville MS 38702
[P] 662.378.2105
[F] 662.332.4665
generalinfo@msdeltada.com

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P.O. Box 1046
Indianola, MS 38751
[P] 662.887.4306
[F] 662.887.6275
generalinfo@msdeltada.com

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P.O. Box 253
Greenwood, MS 38935
[P] 662.453.1089
[F] 662.451.7291
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Citizen's Involvement in the criminal justice system typically begins with them being a victim, witness, or defendant of a crime. Arrests are made generally by a judge-issued warrant or by a police officer observing a crime in process. Law enforcement may also arrest someone if it has probable cause to believe the person committed a criminal offense. When individuals are arrested they are routinely advised of their Miranda Rights upon arrest, advising them that they have the right to remain silent and that anything they say will be used against them in court. On being questioned, defendants have the right to have their attorney present or to have one appointed if they are indigent.

Felony defendants appear at a first appearance and have the charges reviewed. A judge will inquire if the defendant has an attorney. If low income, the defendant may qualify for a court-appointed lawyer. No plea is entered at this time unless the defendant wishes to plead guilty or waives indictment and has an attorney present. All felony cases are presented to a grand jury in the county that the crime was committed. In the State of Mississippi, only a grand jury has the authority to indict an individual for a felony offense and require them to stand trial for the charges alleged in an affidavit and indictment.

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