WOODVILLE, Miss. woke up to heartbreak Friday morning after a married couple was found dead inside their Ford Street home, a quiet neighborhood suddenly turned into the center of a violent family tragedy.
Authorities say Melinda Andrews and her husband, Lafayette Hunter, were discovered after deputies responded to reports of an incident at the residence on January 30, 2026. When officers arrived, they found both victims had been involved in a physical altercation. Neither survived. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly focused on someone already inside the home. Brandon Andrews, 21, Melinda’s son and Hunter’s stepson, was taken into custody without resistance. Deputies confirmed he is expected to face charges connected to the deaths as the investigation continues.
Law enforcement also recovered a gun from the scene, which is now a key piece of evidence. Officials have not yet said how the weapon was used or what led up to the deadly confrontation, only that the situation escalated inside the home.
There was also a child present during the incident. Authorities say the child was not injured. Child Protective Services stepped in immediately, and the child was later released into the care of family members.
The loss has sent shockwaves through the small Wilkinson County community. Investigator OJ Packnett with the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office spoke with visible emotion, offering condolences to the families and asking for prayers as they face an unthinkable loss.
Multiple agencies are now working together to piece together what happened, including the Centreville Police Department and the Woodville Police Department. The sheriff’s office says the investigation remains active and thorough.
Officials are urging anyone who may have information, no matter how small it may seem, to contact the Wilkinson County Sheriff’s Office as they continue seeking clarity and justice in a case that has left a family shattered and a town searching for answers.
