In the quiet community of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi, a devastating series of events unfolded, forever changing the lives of many. Among the victims of this tragedy was Barbara May Mitchell, a 55-year-old female resident. On Sunday, May 28, 2017, her life was cut short in a senseless act of violence that shook the very core of the small town. The night of Saturday, May 27, 2017, bled into the early morning of the next day with a string of shootings that left a trail of grief and loss.
The
harrowing ordeal began after a domestic dispute led to a shooting spree. The perpetrator, Willie Cory Godbolt, unleashed a wave of violence that spanned multiple locations in the Bogue Chitto and Brookhaven areas. Barbara May Mitchell was one of eight people who tragically lost their lives during this rampage. The other victims included a sheriff's deputy, as well as several of Godbolt's own relatives and acquaintances. The violence left a community in mourning and grappling with the shock of such a profound loss.
In the aftermath of the horrific events, law enforcement launched a massive manhunt for the suspect. Willie Cory Godbolt was ultimately apprehended and taken into custody. The legal proceedings that followed brought to light the full extent of his crimes. In February 2020, a jury found Godbolt guilty on multiple counts of capital murder and other charges related to the deadly spree. He was subsequently sentenced to death for his heinous actions. The conviction and sentencing offered a measure of justice for the victims and their families, though the pain of their loss remains. The case has continued through the appellate courts, with the convicted murderer seeking to have his conviction overturned.
