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OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

District Attorney Michael Guest, Twentieth Judicial District
Rankin and Madison Counties

www.daguest.com

Media Release
Promises Made. Promises Kept.

For Immediate Release • Tuesday, December 7, 2010

For more information, please contact
Michael Guest at (601) 825-1472 • mguest@daguest.com

DA Guest: Man Receives A sentence of Life plus 10 years for Murder and Aggravated Assault

Madison and Rankin Counties' District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Mack Watts, Jr. received a life sentence for murder and ten years for aggravated assault through a plea agreement. Mack shot his former girlfriend and shot her friend to death in an apartment complex in Pearl in 2010.

On January 23, 2010, the Pearl Police Department responded to a 911 call about shots being fired at Crosswinds Apartments. When officers arrived they discovered blood outside the apartment of Candice Garnett. Police noticed what appeared to be signs of forced entry into the apartment. Officers entered the apartment and discovered the body of Robert Lindsey III. Lindsey had been shot three times in the chest. Pearl Police Department soon learned that Candice Garnett had also been shot and she had been transported to a local hospital. Officers interviewed Garnett and learned that her former long time boyfriend had shot both Lindsey and herself.

Garnett told detectives that Watts had been seen at the apartment complex prior to the shooting. Watts walked to Garnett's apartment and knocked on the door, but she would not let him in. Watts then forced his way into the apartment and pointed a weapon at Lindsey. Watts then fired, hitting Lindsey in the chest. Garnett was shot as she ran out of the apartment. She ran into the parking lot where she was able to find help, convincing a passerby to take her to the hospital.

Watts fled the scene and was arrested later that night in Louisiana. The Pearl Police Department was able to locate Watt's whereabouts by tracking his cell phone. They were then able to pass along this information to the Louisiana State Police who arrested Lindsey near Bossier City, Louisiana. Lindsey was interviewed by law enforcement from Pearl and admitted shooting the victims.

Guest stated, "This is an example of a needless loss of life. Watts was a very jealous and possessive individual who had no respect for the value of human life. His senseless rage led to the death of a father of two and to the shooting of the very person whom he felt he could not live without."

Guest concluded, "The Pearl Police Department did an outstanding job in apprehending Watts. Their use of cutting edge law enforcement law enforcement technology enabled them to track the suspect in real time as he used his cell phone. Pearl was then able to direct the authorities in Louisiana to Mack's location, and a murderer was arrested as he attempted to flee across state lines."

District Attorney Michael Guest took office in January 2008, and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, Madison and Rankin Counties.  For more information about the District Attorney’s office, please visit www.daguest.com.

                                   

 

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

     
 

 

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