A Mississippi mother has been sentenced to life in prison after admitting to killing her son and concealing his body behind a fake wall in her home for weeks, all while impersonating him via text and calls to deceive his family.
Jerri Roby, 69, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the 2023 killing of her son, 42-year-old John Allen Gaither. The case began in December 2023 when Gaither's brother reported him missing to Gulfport police, having not heard from him for a week. Roby, who lived with Gaither, initially told authorities that her son had gone to Louisiana to buy a car.
Gaither's stepmother and brother contacted police again about a month later, stating they had received calls and text messages from his phone number. However, they expressed doubt that the communications were genuinely from Gaither.
Authorities obtained a search warrant for Roby's residence on January 18, 2024. During the search, officers discovered a concealed wall in the front of the home. Behind this fake wall, they found a large box containing Gaither's body. Investigators determined that Gaither died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
During court proceedings, Roby stated that she shot her son spontaneously, claiming she was putting him "out of his misery" due to his depression. Assistant District Attorney Matthew D. Burrell revealed that Roby admitted to forging letters sent to Gaither's family and sending text messages impersonating her son. She also reportedly enlisted her boyfriend to call family members while imitating Gaither.
Investigators examining Roby's home found a receipt from Gulfport Home Depot detailing purchases made roughly a week before Gaither was reported missing. These purchases included 15 bags of sand, two rolls of patch and seal tape, straw, and a dumpster bag. Earlier purchases also included plastic sheets, soil, and tape.
Records also indicate Roby has a prior murder conviction in Florida from 1995 and has used multiple aliases. After her arrest, Roby was hospitalized after ingesting pharmaceutical pills. She has since been sentenced to life in prison.
District Attorney Crosby Parker stated that Roby's guilty plea and sentence offer a "measure of justice, accountability, and closure for the victim's loved ones." He commended the investigators for their dedication in bringing Roby to justice despite her efforts to mislead them.