Bond set for Adams County murder suspect

Published 12:00 am Monday, November 14, 2005

Natchez &8212; A Roxie woman arrested Saturday in connection with a fatal shooting earlier that night was arraigned Monday morning in Adams County Justice Court.

Judge Charles Vess set bond at $75,000 for Wanda Hannon Jenkins, 36, of 111 Nelson Ballfield Road in Roxie.

&8220;It&8217;s not an unreasonable bond, but high enough,&8221; Vess said following the hearing, which was held in a heavily guarded courtroom.

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Jenkins is charged with murder in the fatal shooting of 29-year-old Kim Donald of 14 James Brown Ave. The incident took place outside a home on Hobo Forks Road in east Adams County.

Donald was shot in the chest, apparently with a 9 mm gun, and was pronounced dead less than one hour later at Natchez Regional Medical Center.

Jenkins was arrested in Natchez later Saturday night and, as of Monday, was still being held in the Adams County Jail.

While he wouldn&8217;t elaborate due to an ongoing investigation, Sheriff Ronny Brown said the shooting might have been the result of a domestic dispute.

Jenkins, a mother of four, appeared calm and quiet as she stood before Vess in court, addressing him as &8220;sir&8221; and answering his questions in an almost-whisper.

At one point, Jenkins asked Vess if a property bond could be put up for her release, adding that &8220;I just want to stay with my kids.&8221;

Jenkins&8217; family said later Monday they weren&8217;t happy with how the hearing was held.

They showed up at 9 a.m. Monday for the arraignment, which was originally scheduled at that time, but said they were told by officials there the hearing wouldn&8217;t be held until 1 p.m. that day.

When they showed up at 12:30 p.m., they were told the hearing had already taken place at 11 a.m.

Vess said the hearing had been moved from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., so the family was given the latest information when they showed up at 9 a.m.

However, Vess said the sheriff&8217;s office asked him to move the hearing to 11:30 a.m. and close the Justice Court building due to security concerns.

Only a newspaper reporter and court and law enforcement personnel were present at the 11:30 a.m. arraignment.

Brown said the Justice Court judges set when such hearings are held, not the Sheriff&8217;s Office. However, Brown did say that it&8217;s the policy of his office to take such heightened security measures on what he called &8220;high-profile cases.&8221;

&8220;That&8217;s just one way we&8217;re trying to beef up (courthouse) security,&8221; Brown said.

He also noted that, in this case, the families of the victim and the suspect were liable to both show up for the hearing, causing a possible security risk.

Vess assigned Jenkins a court-appointed attorney during Monday&8217;s arraignment.

The judge said a preliminary hearing could be held in the case as early as December.

The apparent homicide is the second in unincorporated Adams County this year.

Marshal &8220;Mark&8221; Brown, 46, was found dead in late March in his RV, which was parked outside Wayne&8217;s Auto on U.S. 61 North, his place of employment.

That case is still under investigation, and anyone with information on that case is asked to call the sheriff&8217;s office or call Crime Stoppers at (601) 442-5000.

James Anderson, 28, was killed on Garden Street in the city limits in September. Brian Wilson was charged with murder in the case.