DESOTO COUNTY, MS (abc24.com) - He's a convicted killer and he could be anywhere. No one's heard from Joseph Ozment in more than a week.
Ozment is one of four killers pardoned by former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour right before he left office. After their release, a judge ordered all four to check in with the state prison system every 24 hours.
Ozment is the only one who has not. His release is bringing up bad memories and new fears in DeSoto County.
Ozment was convicted of killing a Hernando store clerk in 1992. The store where the killing took place is still in business, and many in the area still remember this crime.
"It was the store right down here from us that was robbed," said Sherry Wooldridge.
"I went up there the next morning after it happened and they told me about it," remembered James Hollis.
It's been almost 20 years since Ozment murdered a man at the Old Road Store in Hernando. All that time hasn't erased the memory, especially now that Ozment is a free man.
"I think the subject once he was in prison faded away," said Wooldridge. "Obviously now his release has brought it back up. Knowing that it was this area that we live in is a scary thing."
Nobody knows where Ozment is. He is one of the four murderers released who has not followed instructions to check in with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
"Where is he now and what is he doing?" Wooldridge asked. "That's the scary, scary thing about it."
"I don't like it," added Hollis. "A fellow who takes a life ought to have his took really."
The Attorney General said Ozment has family in the Mid-South. He's due in court on January 23rd for a hearing on whether or not his release is legal.
"Anybody that would murder a man, I don't think would follow the rules with checking back in either," said Hollis.
New Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant already said he has no intention of pardoning anyone.
Meanwhile, state lawmakers are looking at changing the law so governors aren't be able to grant pardons at the end of a term.
