BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -
It's another twist in an already bizarre case. Jeremy Manieri, the man accused of murdering a Louisiana priest, was found dead in his jail cell Thursday from a possible suicide.
The Waveland man was being held in the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility.
"It's a loss. No matter what people think of him, and I know some people don't think much," said Manieri's attorney Brian Alexander. "He almost certainly died a pretty horrific death."
Last July, Manieri was arrested and charged with killing Louisiana priest Ed Everitt, and then driving the priest's car on a family vacation to Disney World.
According to Mississippi Department of Corrections officials, a correctional officer discovered Manieri dead in his cell around 3am on Thursday.
"I know they found him in his cell, deceased, and that there was some type of sheet around his neck. I don't know how it got there necessarily. I know there is some speculating from authorities," said Alexander.
The death is being investigated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Manieri's attorney said he spoke with his client just a few weeks ago, and that he seemed in good spirits. However, the attorney said that Manieri had expressed concerns about his safety several times.
"He always expressed fear because everybody in the state knew that he was a convicted sex offender that he had a bull's eye on his back. Inmates are not very kind to inmates who are sex offenders. He expressed that concern quite a bit," said Alexander.
Alexander said he did not know many details about the death, and did not want to speculate while authorities investigate. However, he said the loss of his client puts the entire case into perspective.
"It kind of brings things into sharp contrast. That I have strategy; we have strategy; the Attorney General has strategy; everybody had their strategy. At the end of the day, these are human lives that we are dealing with, and this is a stark reminder of that," said Alexander.
The District Attorney's office also reacted to Manieri's death.
"We would obviously prefer for justice to have been secured through the proper venue in the court system, but that is no longer an option" said District Attorney Joel Smith in a press release. "We have already been in touch with MDOC, Father Everitt's church and his family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Father Ed, his family and parishioners. Our office will continue to assist and provide support to the Everitt family in this difficult time."
From here, Alexander said Manieri can no longer be prosecuted on any accused crimes. However, the attorney's job is far from finished.
Alexander had filed a complaint against Attorney General Jim Hood for a campaign ad that featured Manieri's case. The commercial was an attack ad against Hood's then opponent, Steve Simpson. It featured pictures of Manieri with the following script:
"As a Judge Simpson let them out early like this convicted child molester…Then, the child molester murdered a 70-year-old priest in cold blood."
Alexander says that commercial set back any defense of his client by condemning him long before the case could see a jury. Because it was aired statewide, the attorney says it tainted any potential juror and made it impossible for Manieri to receive a fair trial.
Even after his client's death, Alexander says he will continue to pursue the complaint.
"It's far bigger than Jim Hood. It's far bigger than Jeremy Manieri. So, on principle, I feel it is important we proceed with that," said the attorney.
Alexander went on to say that Hood's recent actions against former Governor Haley Barbour's pardons, claiming they violated constitutional procedure, were hypocritical because he believes the ad is unconstitutional.
"Jim Hood is chastising the governor Barbour about the constitution? I don't think Jim Hood can spell the word constitution," said Alexander.
According to Alexander, Hood has until sometime in February to respond to the complaint. At that point, the Mississippi Bar will rule on what, if any, action should be taken against Hood.
Previous requests for comment on the complaint from the Attorney General were denied. A spokesperson from Hood's office had told WLOX that rules of conduct prohibit any comment on the matter.
Copyright 2012 WLOX. All rights reserved.
Jeremy Manieri (Photo source: MS Dept. of Corrections)
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and WLOX, a Raycom Media Station. 