On a Tuesday in mid-September of 2023, the quiet of Richland Creek in Rankin County, Mississippi, was broken by a grim discovery. The body of 29-year-old Dan Belton, a Black male from Richland, was found near Old Highway 49 east on September 19th. It was immediately clear that his death was violent; he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
Though Mr. Belton was found in Rankin County, the ensuing investigation quickly pointed to the crime having its origins in the city of Jackson.
This led to a collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies from both jurisdictions, all seeking to piece together the final moments of Dan Belton's life. Their work led them to identify two brothers as the primary suspects in the murder.
The first breakthrough in the case came just two days after the discovery of the body. On Thursday, September 21st, authorities located and arrested 26-year-old Justin Thurmond at a location on North State Street in Jackson. He was subsequently charged with the murder of Dan Belton. The second suspect, his younger brother, was apprehended in the early morning hours of Saturday, September 23rd. Jordan Thurmond, 21 years old, was taken into custody on East Pascagoula Street in Jackson and also faced a charge of murder. The swift arrests of the two brothers brought a sense of resolution to the initial phase of the investigation, though the full story of what led to the tragic death of Dan Belton was yet to be revealed through the legal process.
