TUNICA, MS (abc24.com) - The man accused in two deadly shootings along north Mississippi highways is being held on a $1.25 million bond in a Tunica County jail.
28-year-old James Willie appeared in court Monday, May 21 for the murder of Tunica casino worker Lori Carswell, who was fatally shot along Highway 713 in Robinsonville on May 11.
Willie was originally arrested in Tunica on Tuesday, May 15 for sexual assault. At the time of his arrest he was in possession of a handgun, which was matched to the weapon used to kill Carswell and 72-year-old Tom Schlender on May 8. Schlender was found shot to death on I-55 in Panola County; he was en route to Florida from Nebraska to pick up his grandson from college.
A Tunica County judge set Willie's bond at $1 million for the murder charge, in addition to $250,000 bond for the rape.
James Willie's murder case for the death of Tom Schlender will be presented to a Panola County grand jury in June.
