The Attala County Sheriff’s Department made an arrest Sunday night in relation to the hit-and-run death of 20-year-old Bethany M. White of Louisville.
Richard Perry Ford Jr. of McCool was arrested at his residence and charged with one count of felony leaving the scene and one count of felony negligent manslaughter. The arresting officer was Deputy Mark Hill, assisted by Deputy Scott Chunn.
Perry did not resist the arrest and later admitted to the incident, according to Sheriff Tim Nail.
The arrest was the result of an anonymous tip given to Nail’s office about a Facebook page with a photo of a truck matching the description authorities provided following Saturday’s incident at Pee Wee’s store in Weir.
Surveillance footage reportedly show portions of the incident which includes an altercation between Perry and White, according to Nail.
“There was a connection,” Nail said, when asked about any history between Perry and White. “She had actually been staying with him.”
Perry is being held at Leake County jail without bond awaiting his initial appearance in Justice Court. Neal said that appearance would probably be Tuesday.
Neal noted the arrest was the result of a coordinated effort by the Attala, Choctaw, Webster and Winston Sheriff’s Departments, and also mentioned that Kosciusko Police Department’s Tommy Pender was a “big help.”
