Bailey man charged with arson, murder in mother’s death
Published 9:42 am Tuesday, October 23, 2018
- Whitney Downard / The Meridian StarAn elderly woman died in her home on the 4200 block of Bailey Acres Road Thursday evening during a house fire.
A 53-year-old Bailey man faces capital murder and arson charges following the death of his mother on Thursday.
Irma Jean Reese, 84, died in a fire that investigators said her son, Michael Gerard Reese, set intentionally. Michael Reese sustained injuries from the fire, which destroyed the interior of their home on Bailey Acres Circle, Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun said Tuesday.
Michael Reese’s bond has been set at $50,000 for arson and he was denied bond on the capital murder charge.
Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said on Friday that Irma Reese died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Calhoun added that the exact cause and time of death may be determined in an autopsy.
Michael Reese has been released from a hospital in Jackson and now resides in the Lauderdale County Detention Facility, Calhoun said.
Calhoun said that the investigation is ongoing and a motive hasn’t been released.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department and State Fire Marshal’s Department are investigating.
