In the quiet town of Terry, Mississippi, a beloved matriarch's life was brought to a tragic and violent end. On Sunday, July 25, 2021, 83-year-old Sarah E. Hylander was found deceased in her home. Her death was the result of gun violence, a shocking event that also claimed the life of her 60-year-old son, David Hylander. The grim discovery was made by Hinds County sheriff's deputies who were performing a welfare check at their residence on Midway Road.
Both Sarah and her son had sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the double homicide quickly centered on a member of their own family. Harry Hylander, Sarah's grandson and David's nephew, was identified as the primary suspect. Authorities apprehended him shortly after the bodies were found at a hotel in Clinton, Mississippi. At the time of his arrest, he was in possession of a significant amount of cash believed to have belonged to his grandmother. Reports indicated that a possible altercation had occurred between Harry and his uncle, David, a day or so before the shootings.
Following his arrest, Harry Hylander faced serious charges for the deaths of his grandmother and uncle. He was charged with capital murder in the death of Sarah Hylander and first-degree murder for the death of David Hylander. The investigation revealed that Harry had confessed the murders to another family member. While the official motive was not explicitly detailed, the large sum of money found with the suspect suggested a potential financial incentive.
The legal proceedings concluded in November 2024, when Harry Hylander pleaded guilty to both murders. He was subsequently sentenced to two life sentences without the possibility of parole. The resolution of the case brought a sense of closure to the community, though the violent loss of Sarah and David Hylander left an indelible mark on their surviving family and all who knew them.
