A DeSoto County grand jury has indicted a man on a murder charge after an alleged machete attack that killed his roommate in Southaven in January, a case that has rattled neighbors and drawn close attention from local law enforcement. Authorities say the attack happened on Jan. 13, and the case is now pending in DeSoto County Circuit Court as prosecutors gear up for the next phase.
Grand Jury Returns Murder Indictment
A DeSoto County grand jury returned an indictment charging Maberic Javier Reyes with murder in the Jan. 13 machete attack in Southaven, according to the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office. The office said Reyes is from Honduras and that the victim was from Mexico. Prosecutors noted that the Southaven Police Department handled the investigation and that the indictment came less than five months after the killing.
DA Applauds Fast Police Work
District Attorney Matthew Barton publicly praised investigators for moving the case along at a brisk pace. “To secure a murder indictment in less than five months is an extraordinary accomplishment,” Barton wrote, calling the indictment “a testament to the outstanding work of the Southaven Police Department and our team,” according to the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office.
Booking Records Detail Charges
Public online booking records show a mid-January arrest by the Southaven Police Department with listed charges that include murder and tampering with physical evidence, according to Mississippi Arrests. The entry includes a mugshot and identifies the arresting agency as Southaven Police.
Violent Crime Scrutinized In Southaven
Homicides remain uncommon in Southaven, but federal crime figures compiled for the area show an increase in reported violent crimes in 2024 compared with recent years. That uptick has put extra pressure on detectives and prosecutors handling high-profile cases like this one. Crime Explorer compiles the FBI data for DeSoto County and reflects the trend.
What The Indictment Actually Means
An indictment is a formal accusation, not a conviction, and does not by itself establish guilt. The accused is entitled to arraignment, pretrial proceedings, and all protections of due process. After a grand jury returns a true bill, prosecutors still must prove every element of the charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt at trial, according to FindLaw. For now, the case remains pending in DeSoto County Circuit Court as the prosecution continues to develop its file.
