In the quiet town of Dumas, Arkansas, a tragic story unfolded on June 11, 2015, forever altering the lives of two families and shaking the community to its core. Kentarrious Racces Madden, an 18-year-old Black male, and his friend, Michael Shawn Reeves Jr., also 18, were found shot to death inside a residence on Evergreen Street. Both young men, recent high school graduates and promising athletes, were discovered in the kitchen area of the home with gunshot wounds to the head.
The shocking discovery sent ripples of grief and disbelief through the close-knit neighborhood.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly led authorities to 32-year-old Vernyell Yarquis Mosby. The home where the two teenagers were found belonged to Mosby. The motive for the brutal killings stemmed from a soured romantic relationship. Mosby's former girlfriend of eight years had recently begun dating Michael Reeves. This new relationship was something Mosby could not accept, reportedly telling his ex-girlfriend, 'I'm not fixin' to let no 18-year-old take you from me, I'm not going to let that happen.' It is believed that Mosby lured Reeves to his home under the pretense of a meeting, a decision that would have fatal consequences for both Reeves and his friend, Kentarrious Madden.
After giving police permission to search his home, Mosby admitted to the presence of two bodies inside. The remains of Madden and Reeves were found concealed under a pile of rugs in the kitchen. Mosby was promptly arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder. During the investigation, he admitted to the shootings, claiming they were the result of a confrontation. He was held without bond at the Dumas City Jail. The legal proceedings that followed resulted in Mosby's conviction on two counts of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to a substantial prison term. The court later affirmed his conviction, solidifying the legal conclusion to a senseless act of violence that cut short two young lives.
