The law is tedious. There’s no shortage of bizarre, outdated local laws throughout the United States. Did you know it’s illegal to run out of gas while driving in Youngstown, Ohio? We are sure there are other strange laws. A Mississippi law that keeps a prisoner behind bars indefinitely is an obscure one.
Frederick Bell has spent 31 years behind bars
Frederick Bell, aged 19, entered Grenada County, Mississippi on May 6, 1991 armed with a pistol of.22 caliber. Anthony Doss, his friend, was also planning to rob the establishment. It’s unclear when or why things when south, but Bell shot the cashier, 21-year-old Bert Bell (of no relation to the perpetrator) nine times. He fled with a pistol of.38 caliber, a box filled with bullets and cash.
Bell fled the scene along with three others. Bell and three other men made their escape to Memphis, Tennessee where they decided to rob another store. Bell shot Tommy White (20-year-old cashier) in the process. The men were eventually taken into custody at a Memphis address. After two years of due process, the courts found Bell guilty of capital murder—meaning he would be put to death.
RELATED:How decks of playing cards are helping investigators solve cold cases across the country
For 20 years, Bell’s legal team repeatedly appealed his death sentence, sending the prisoner for countless evaluations. In 2013, the state changed Bell’s sentence to life in prison, declaring that his mental state left him ineligible for capital punishment. Bell was finally released after only two years. The parole board finally authorized Bell’s release from prison in August.
“In our opinion, Bell has been rehabilitated, and at this point, we feel that parole supervision will be more beneficial than further incarceration,”In a statement, Chairman Jeffery Belk stated that he was resigning on August 25. It’s clear that this decision wasn’t made lightly, so there’s been some confusion as to why Bell is still sitting behind bars. As it turns out, Bell’s release has been delayed indefinitely due to a longstanding Mississippi law.
Frederick Bell’s Release Delayed By Red Tape
In Mississippi, before an inmate convicted of a capital crime can be released on parole, a newspaper local to the area where the crime was committed must run a notice of parole for two consecutive weeks prior to the inmate’s release. According to our research, Mississippi appears to be the only state that has a law of this type. While it’s not widely known, the law is still strictly adhered to in the state.
The practice stands so that the community has a chance to provide their input on the parole board’s decision. According to the official, Mississippi State Parole Board Policies & ProceduresThe board meets at “community opposition”When determining whether an inmate is eligible to be released, take this into account.
“Any inmate convicted of a capital offense shall not be (initially) considered for parole until notice concerning his/her possible parole is published at least once a week for two (2) weeks in a newspaper published and having general circulation in the county where the crime was committed,”The law says.
Bell was unable to proceed with the process. The local Grenada County newspaper, despite being approved for publication in August, has not yet been released. Grenada Star, still hasn’t run his parole notice. The paper’s publisher, Adam Prestridge, told Vice NewsHe has not yet received any communication from the parole board. Until the board gives his paper the go-ahead, there isn’t anything he can do.
Frederick Bell’s Future Is Uncertain
Sen. Angela Hill stated that she was informed by a local radio station about the holdup. “Over the weekend, we confirmed that the notice was not run in the local paper where the murder occurred, as required,”Hill noted. “We contacted the Attorney General’s Office, and the Attorney General’s Office indicated to us that she had contacted the parole board and that he would not be released unless or until the proper notification to the community was run in the local paper.”
RELATED:This Podcast Retells Horror Stories From The Dead: From Gacy to Epstein to Chinatown
It’s unclear why the parole board hasn’t moved forward with the newspaper notice, but the longer it waits, the longer it will be before Bell’s release. “If we receive something by our deadline of 5 p.m. on Thursday, it would run the next immediate Wednesday, as we are a weekly publication. It would run for two consecutive weeks, 30 days prior to his release,”Prestridge said Vice.
Yet, even if the board does eventually send notice, there’s still the obstacle of community judgement. There’s been significant community opposition to Bell’s release. The victims’ families and state workers alike have been outspoken against the parole board’s decision. As it stands now, the only thing holding back floodgates has been the publishing delay. The parole board will likely be under pressure to reconsider its initial decision once the channel is opened for community input.