Reward offered for help finding murder suspect

By John Howell
Authorities are offering a $2,500 reward for the arrest and conviction of Cordarius D. Strong, a suspect in the March 2 shooting death of Roary Ledell Thomas on Bradford Street in Batesville.
Batesville Police Chief Jimmy McCloud announced the reward in cooperation with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) in the apprehension of the 16-year-old Batesville youth first named as a person of interest following shooting that killed Thomas.
Nakia Lamar, 18, was arrested the night following the shooting and charged with capital murder.
Authorities were called to the Bradford Street location at mid-afternoon March 2 where they found Thomas, 33, dead in a parked car where he had been shot. Information provided by neighbors and witnesses led to Lamar’s arrest and the naming of Strong as a person of interest.
Strong is described as a slightly built man, about 5’ 3” and 153 pounds.
Anyone with information that would lead to the arrest and conviction is urged to contact the Batesville Police Dept., 662-563-5653; the Panola County Sheriff’s Dept., 662-563-6230 or Crimestoppers, 800-729-2169.