By John Howell
Panola County authorities expect to file capital murder charges Friday against two 18-year-olds for the death of Vernon Glenn “Peanut” Martin, 57, who died early Thursday from injuries received during a robbery attempt at his home.
Panola County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Major Barry Thompson said that Martin’s injuries were sustained during a “very brutal attack” with a blunt object in the front yard of his Johnson Road home about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Around noon Wednesday, investigators received a tip that the suspects were in the Walmart parking lot, mobilizing a phalanx of officers from the sheriff’s department, Batesville Police Department and Mississippi Highway Patrol who then took Justin Hall and Cheyenne Turnage into custody without incident, Thompson said.
“They went there to get some money,” Thompson alleged. “They (Martin and his wife, Emily) knew the suspects; they had been there before.”
 “She (Emily Martin) heard the ruckus outside and opened the door,” Thompson said. “He (Glenn) was attempting to crawl back into the house; she called for help.”
Deputy Sheriff Maurice Market was first to arrive at the home, soon to be joined by Thompson and the other sheriff’s department investigators. Martin was transported to the Region One Medical Center for treatment.
“Our whole investigative unit worked all day and night as a team,” Thompson said, first to identify the suspects and take them into custody, then to gather evidence and build a case. During their investigation they were also monitoring Martin’s condition, learning of his death early Thursday, about 24 hours after he was attacked.
Thompson met with assistant District Attorney Jay Hale late Thursday morning to describe the evidence, he said. Capital murder charges are warranted because the murder was committed during another crime — robbery. There is no bond in capital cases, the investigator said.
Wells Funeral Home will be in charge of arrangements, which were incomplete at press time.