Death Penalty
Sought In
Woman’s Slaying
Mississippi
prosecutors want
the death
penalty for a
sex offender who
is accused of
killing
81-year-old
Ethel Winstead
Simpson, but
Alabama
authorities say
they may try the
suspect first on
crimes here.
James Cobb Hutto III, 39, of Jasper, was arrested in Alabama allegedly while driving Simpson's car. Simpson’s body was found near Edwards, Mississippi on Sept. 17. She died of blunt force trauma.
Hutto was the last person seen with Simpson in Mississippi. They were spotted on camera at a Vicksburg casino days before she was found dead at a hog farm. Investigators believe Hutto befriended Simpson on the walking track at the Baptist Healthplex in Clinton. A few hours later, the two were seen driving away in Simpson’s car.
Hutto is wanted in Alabama on charges of murder, attempted murder and armed robbery.
In Mississippi, Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith says he will seek the death penalty. But Mississippi attorney general’s office spokeswoman Jan Schaefer told a newspaper that there is a possibility Hinds County might not be able to obtain custody of Hutto until after charges in two Alabama counties are prosecuted.
In Alabama, Hutto is charged in Lee County for the attack on Mark Ambers Cox, 56, of Opelika. And in Jefferson County, Hutto is accused of killing his 68-year-old great aunt, Virginia Rardon. A Lee County assistant district attorney said his office would more than likely defer to Mississippi’s prosecution of Hutto in Simpson’s slaying.
Hutto already was wanted in Alabama because he has failed to register as a sex offender.
State corrections officials said Hutto was convicted in 2002 of sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl and sentenced to two concurrent 10-year terms. He served 3 1/2 years before his release in 2005.
