GULFPORT, Miss. – A 66-year-old woman is facing charges of first-degree murder after authorities discovered the body of her son hidden in a container behind a false wall in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Jerri Lynn Isreal was arrested on Saturday following a weeks-long investigation that began when authorities received reports of a potential missing person on December 22. Throughout the course of the investigation, detectives found discrepancies in Isreal’s statements and noted her increasing uncooperativeness and changing statements.
According to authorities, Isreal has a previous conviction for murder in Florida in 1995, where she attempted to dispose of the body at multiple locations. Armed with this information, detectives obtained a search warrant for Isreal’s home.
During the search, authorities uncovered a “military locker-style container” containing the body of 42-year-old John Allen Gaither, Isreal’s son, hidden behind a false wall. Isreal was then taken to the hospital after consuming an unsafe amount of pills.
Isreal has been processed and transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center to be held in lieu of bond. This tragic incident has left the Gulfport community in shock and mourning, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder.
The motive behind the murder is still under investigation, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The Gulfport Police Department is working tirelessly to piece together the events leading up to this disturbing discovery. As the case unfolds, the community eagerly awaits justice for the victim and closure for their loved ones.