On the morning of July 14, 2022, a grim discovery was made in Lee County, Mississippi, when deputies were dispatched to investigate a vehicle that had run off into a ditch on County Road 1438. The car, a dark-colored sedan, was riddled with bullet holes, hinting at a violent encounter. Inside the vehicle, law enforcement found the body of 21-year-old Jeremiah Flakes, a Black male from the Tupelo area. He had been shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body was later sent to the state crime lab for an autopsy.
The investigation into the young man's death quickly pointed toward foul play, and the case was treated as a homicide. As deputies scoured the area for clues, they discovered several spent bullet casings at a residence near where the car was found. This home belonged to Jeremiah Flakes's estranged wife, Patricia Flakes. This finding was a crucial turning point in the investigation, leading authorities to suspect the involvement of individuals known to the victim.
Following a thorough investigation, warrants for first-degree murder were issued for three individuals: 42-year-old Patricia Flakes, 33-year-old Shannon D. Bramlett, and 19-year-old Darick L. Moody. In addition to the murder charges, Patricia Flakes and Shannon Bramlett also faced warrants for being felons in possession of a firearm. The three suspects went on the run, prompting a multi-state manhunt. Their time as fugitives was limited, however. On August 1, 2022, Bramlett and Moody were apprehended in the Pensacola, Florida, area. A little over a week later, on August 12, Patricia Flakes was captured by U.S. Marshals in Tennessee. Following their arrests, Bramlett and Moody were held at the Lee County jail, each with a bond set at one million dollars.
