Mother of gunshot victim believes death linked to drugs

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 16, 2001

The mother of a gunshot victim said Tuesday that drugs may have played a part in her daughter’s violent death in Adams County. Bootsie Loftin of Woodville said her daughter, Anna Loftin Blank, had been heavily involved in drugs off and on for several years.

But Blank had recently spent time in a rehabilitation program and was beginning to get her life in order before she was found dead Monday, Loftin said.

Sheriff’s deputies discovered Blank’s body Monday morning after a caller reported seeing an unconscious woman in a parked car along West Wilderness Road in northern Adams County.

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When deputies arrived, they found Blank, 27, had been shot twice in the head. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

Loftin said her daughter had recently agreed to assist narcotics officers in identifying other drug users and dealers in the area.

Neither Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell nor sheriff’s investigators returned calls Tuesday.

Chuck Mayfield, Natchez Adams Metro Narcotics, could not comment on the case or whether Blank worked as an informant because the case is still under investigation.

Loftin said she believes her daughter left a friend’s house Sunday night to find drugs after an argument with a boyfriend.

She suspects drug dealers in the Broadmoor area, near where Blank’s body was found, may have lured her out on a deal and then killed her because of her involvement with undercover narcotics investigations.

&uot;If I could just reach out to those kids that are on drugs and show them what could happen …&uot; Loftin said.

Loftin urged anyone with information about her daughter’s death contact the Adams County Sheriff’s Department.

Blank, who was separated from her husband, leaves two sons ages 4 and 5.

Loftin said the children have been under her care for several years while their mother battled drug addiction.

At press time Tuesday, funeral arrangements for Blank were incomplete at Laird Funeral Home in Natchez.