Jackson Man Found Guilty in Homicide of Missouri Woman at Logan’s Roadhouse Restaurant

Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Bubba Bramlett announced today that Zebulum James, 27, was convicted, after a jury trial, of the murder of Kristy Mitchell.

On November 19, 2015 Ridgeland Police Department was alerted to a shooting at the Logan’s Roadhouse on County Line Road. Upon arrival, they located Kristy Mitchell, 48, who was from Excelsior Springs, Missouri and staying at the Drury Inn on a business trip.

Mrs. Mitchell had been shot in her abdomen by an unknown man driving a blue Mustang. Witnesses stated that the Mustang left the parking lot heading south towards Hinds County via I-55. Officers later received information, from the Jackson Police Department, that they were working multiple crime scenes involving a man driving a blue Mustang. After a joint investigation, it was determined James had shot and killed a woman at a gas station in Hinds County, shot a JATRAN bus, shot into a house in Jackson, and shot and killed Mitchell all within an hour and half period.

James was located shortly thereafter at his mother’s apartment in Jackson. Authorities also located the blue Mustang as well as the gun that was used in both murders. James went to trial in Madison County Monday asserting an insanity defense. Multiple forensic psychiatrists evaluated James over an extended period of time and testified at trial that he was not insane at the time of the murder. After deliberation, the jury unanimously found him to be guilty of the murder of Mitchell.

District Attorney Bramlett stated “First, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Mrs. Mitchell. It is inconceivable that someone here on business could be gunned down by a stranger as they walked through a parking lot for dinner. Why Zebulum James found it necessary to take this innocent woman’s life we will never know. But, what we do know is that he was not crazy. He was not insane. He is a murderer, and he will now spend the rest of his life in prison as a result of that. A special thanks goes out to the many officers with both the Ridgeland and Jackson Police Departments that worked together in order to quickly capture this violent criminal. I also want to thank my investigators at the DA’s Office for the countless hours they spent helping to bring this case to trial. None of this would be possible without the work of law enforcement. We hope this verdict brings some sort of closure to Mrs. Mitchell’s family.”

Defendant:

Name: Zebulum James

Date of Birth: 10/26/1993