A Mississippi woman behind bars on attempted murder and bomb-making charges is now also accused of plotting an escape from the Lafayette County Detention Center. Christina Willis, 27, from Batesville, was initially apprehended after authorities found a suspicious package on a car on June 20, which was later identified as a homemade explosive device. According to WREG, Willis faced charges of planting or placing a bomb and attempted murder following the June incident.
An alleged accomplice, Mark Montgomery, 48, of Greenville, has been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime in relation to the escape attempt. Last Thursday, the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office received a tip about the plan, leading to Montgomery's arrest. He was later given a bond of $50,000 on Saturday, as reported by Action News 5. Despite the accusations, Montgomery is still awaiting additional federal charges.
The original investigation that led to Willis's incarceration involved multiple agencies, including the ATF and the Tupelo Bomb Squad. Investigators executing a federal search warrant on August 4 at Willis's residence discovered "bomb-making materials, homemade high explosive substances, firearms and narcotics, and a live explosive device at her house," as noted by Action News 5.
Following the escape plot revelation, Willis now faces additional charges for conspiracy to commit a crime. She is still awaiting a bond hearing on her the original charges. Both Willis and Montgomery are currently being held at the Lafayette County Detention Center, with the potential for their cases to be presented before a federal grand jury, per the initial investigations and charges.
