Arrest made in WM Homicide

Arrest made in WM Homicide

Police nab suspect in South Avalon murder case

ralphhardin@gmail.com AWest Memphis man is behind bars following an investigation by West Memphis Police investigators.

On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 4, at around 7 a.m., officers with the West Memphis Police Department were called to 713 South Avalon #2 for a welfare check of the resident, 41-year-old Carla Brown.

“Upon arriving on the scene officers were able to hear a baby screaming inside but could get no answer to the door,” explained WMPD Enforcement & Criminal Investigation Division Commander Capt. Joe Baker. “The officers made entry into the residence and located Brown deceased inside from apparent foul play.”

Family members reported that Brown had been beaten and stabbed.

Baker said that during the investigation, officers were able to locate the child that had been heard crying from the outside, approximately 2 years of age, physically unharmed in the residence.

Detectives arrived and processed the scene for evidence. The child was checked by medical personnel and released to other family members.

“Detectives were able to identify Jessie Briscoe, 30, of West Memphis as a suspect during the investigation,” said Baker. “After following up on evidence obtained in the investigation and conducting interviews, detectives were able to obtain and arrest warrant for Jessie Briscoe for Murder in the First Degree.”

Baker reported that Briscoe was arrested on Thursday, Sept. 29 on murder charges. During an interview following the arrest he subsequently confessed to killing Brown.

“We are relieved to be able to provide Carla Brown's family some closure in this case with the arrest of Jessie Briscoe,” said Baker.

“Briscoe committed a horrible act against Ms. Brown and also is responsible for traumatizing a very small child in this terrible crime.

Briscoe committed this murder with no remorse and then left a small child in the apartment that also could have been seriously injured by being left alone.”

Briscoe has been arraigned and is currently being held at the Crittenden County Detention Center on a $275,000 bond.

By Ralph Hardin