HERNANDO, MS (abc24.com) - The man awaiting trial for the 2011 hit and run murder of a Memphis woman in Hernando, Miss. was arrested on multiple drug charges late Wednesday night.
James Allen Whitten, Jr. was arrested by the DeSoto County Sheriff's Department for possession of methamphetamines, heroin, marijuana, morphine and Xanax. He was also charged with possession of a weapon by a felon for carrying brass knuckles. He was booked at the DeSoto Co. Jail just after midnight on Thursday, February 21. According to police records, no bond has been set.
Whitten is awaiting trial for the murder of 23-year-old Sarah Jones of Memphis, who was was found dead on the side of Oak Grove Road in Hernando in the early morning hours of December 22, 2011 lying next to her bicycle. Hernando Police initially thought her death was a hit and run, but Whitten, 55 at the time, was charged with her murder after pictures of the two together were found on his cell phone. Even though there was a 30-plus year age difference, neighbors said they were dating.
Whitten is already a convicted felon; he served almost 20 years in federal prison on serious drug charges.
