By John Howell
A Canton man who was indicted for the Christmas day, 2012, strangling of his girlfriend in Batesville has a trial date set in Panola County following his capital murder trial in Hinds County.
Wright, who told law enforcement officials that he is originally from Batesville, was indicted by a Panola County Grand Jury in April, 2013 for kidnapping Cera Cannon from her Jackson apartment and bringing her to Batesville where he strangled her.

During a January, 2013 preliminary hearing in Batesville Municipal Court, Batesville Police Department Detective Jeremiah Brown testified that the Canton Police Department had notified BPD that Cannon was missing and might be in Batesville. The victim’s car was equipped with technology that allowed it to be tracked to a location on Highway 51 South where police found her body.

Wright later came to the Panola county jail where he confessed to the murder, Brown testified.
Wright was released out on $500,000 bond and awaiting trial when, on October 8, 2013, he is alleged to have fatally shot a 55-year-old Jerry Brent of Utica and kidnapped Brent’s niece, Sharice Latham, who was Wright’s girlfriend at the time. Latham later escaped unharmed from her abductor.

The murder triggered a manhunt that culminated over two weeks later with Wright’s capture at a church shelter in McComb.

On Monday, Circuit Judge Jimmy McClure agreed to a plea date in September and a trial date in October for Wright. The judge’s order came at the recommendation of attorneys for both the prosecution and defense due to his trial date for capital murder in Hinds County set for July.