Perry County Sheriff's Office

08/29/2026

🚨 SCAM WARNING — PERRY COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI 🚨

The Perry County Sheriff’s Department is warning citizens to be aware of a law enforcement impersonation scam currently targeting people in our area.

We have received information that an individual is calling citizens and claiming to be “Deputy Johnson with the Perry County Sheriff’s Department.” The caller is telling people that a family member is in jail and that they can get that family member released if the victim purchases prepaid Visa cards and provides the card numbers to the caller.

THIS IS A SCAM!

The Perry County Sheriff’s Department will NEVER ask you to purchase prepaid Visa cards, gift cards, or send card numbers in order to get someone out of jail.

These scammers may sound convincing and may use the names of actual law enforcement officers or other information to make the call appear legitimate. Do not let them pressure or intimidate you.

If you receive a call like this:

• DO NOT purchase any prepaid cards.
• DO NOT give the caller any card numbers, PINs, or financial information.
• DO NOT send money.
• Hang up and independently contact the Perry County Sheriff’s Department to verify the information.

If you have already provided money or prepaid card information, contact the card company immediately and report the fraud. Save the cards, receipts, phone numbers, text messages, and any other information you have.

Please share this warning with your family, friends, and neighbors. These scammers are counting on people being scared and reacting before they have time to verify the information.

If someone calls claiming to be a Perry County deputy and demands prepaid Visa cards to get a family member out of jail — HANG UP. It is a scam.

Perry County Sheriff’s Department
Protecting the citizens of Perry County

08/21/2026

Perry County and the City of Richton lost a good man yesterday.

Keith Stringer was my friend, and I know he was a friend to many others. He was employed by the City of Richton, and was often seen daily around the city working on whatever was needed, a friend of his made a post yesterday that said, “Them work boots will be hard to fill.” I couldn’t agree more. Keith, you will be missed.

Perry County can be proud of its leaders, first responders, volunteers, and so many others who step up when their community needs them.

On the day of this tragic accident, I watched a large group of men and women come together—city and county leaders and their employees, city and county law enforcement officers, volunteers from Perry County’s fire departments, MHP, AAA and Rescue 7 paramedics, and numerous others who answered the call for help.

I know some of these people don’t always have the same opinions, and they may not always agree on everything. But on that day, none of that mattered. They came together as one team and worked tirelessly, in almost unbearable heat, with one common goal: to save a man’s life.

They put everything they had into getting Mr. Harold Pitts out of a severely damaged vehicle. It proved to be an extremely difficult task, but they never gave up. They worked together to get Mr. Pitts safely removed and transported so he could receive the medical attention he desperately needed.

Thankfully, God chose not to take Mr. Pitts that day.

Perry County can be proud of the actions of everyone who was there. When it mattered most this group came together, and did what needed to be done.

Sheriff Garner and I are proud of and deeply appreciate the Perry County deputies, and dispatchers as well as everyone who assisted with this terrible incident. Your actions represent what is best about our county.

Please continue to pray for the family of our friend, Keith Stringer, the city of Richton and for Mr. Harold Pitts as he continues to recover.

Rest easy, Keith. Those work boots will indeed be hard to fill. 🙏

Chief Deputy,
Van Giadrosich

08/20/2026

Please help us wish Deputy Sean Carnahan a Happy Birthday!! We hope you have a wonderful day! Thank you for all you do!!

08/14/2026

08/08/2026

The Perry County Sheriff’s Office acknowledges the conclusion of the criminal trial involving the death of John Brent Odom. After hearing the evidence presented during the trial, the jury returned a guilty verdict for the charge of first degree murder.

While the judicial process has reached its conclusion, we believe it is important for the public to understand the role of law enforcement throughout a criminal investigation.

From the moment deputies responded to the scene, this case was investigated as a homicide. Investigators secured and processed the scene, collected and preserved physical evidence, conducted numerous interviews, documented their findings, and followed every lead available to them. Their responsibility was to conduct a professional, objective investigation based solely on the facts and evidence, and that responsibility remained the priority throughout the investigation. During the course of this investigation, our department suffered the sudden and tragic loss of one of our investigators, Investigator James Burch. His passing was a tremendous loss to our agency, both professionally and personally. While his death required other investigators to assume additional responsibilities to ensure the investigation continued without interruption, we want to make it clear that his work on this case was completed with professionalism, dedication, and excellence. He fulfilled his responsibilities with the same integrity and commitment that defined his career, and we remain deeply grateful for his service to the citizens of Perry County.

Following his passing, investigator Edward Bolton continued the work he helped begin, carefully reviewing the evidence, completing every necessary investigative step, and preparing the case for prosecution. His dedication ensured the investigation remained thorough, objective, and complete.

The Perry County Sheriff’s Office also extends its sincere appreciation to Assistant District Attorneys Matthew Shoemaker and Brian Buckley for their professionalism, tireless preparation, and unwavering commitment throughout the prosecution of this case. Working under the leadership of District Attorney Lin Carter of Mississippi’s Twelfth Judicial District, they demonstrated an unwavering commitment to justice and ensured the evidence was presented fairly, thoroughly, and professionally. Their dedication played an important role in bringing this case to its conclusion through the judicial process.

Sheriff Jacob Garner is proud of the professionalism demonstrated by every deputy, investigator, dispatcher, and staff member and any others who contributed to this investigation. Their commitment was never to seek a particular outcome, but to uncover the facts, follow the evidence wherever it led, and faithfully perform the duties entrusted to them by the citizens of Perry County.

We also remember John Brent Odom and extend our continued condolences to his family and all those whose lives have been affected by this tragedy. No verdict can undo the loss suffered by those who knew and loved him.

The Perry County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to serving this county with integrity, professionalism, and transparency. Every investigation we undertake is approached with the same commitment to fairness, accountability, and the pursuit of the truth. We appreciate the continued trust and support of the citizens of Perry County and will remain dedicated to serving this county with honor, integrity, and professionalism.

08/08/2026

VERDICT REACHED | A Perry County jury has found Brian Neal Odom guilty of first-degree murder in the 2024 shooting death of his nephew, 33-year-old John Brent Odom.

FULL STORY IN COMMENTS

07/30/2026

The Perry County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Richton Police Department and the Richton School District, recently completed two days of Active Shooter Response Training provided through the ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training) Program.

The training was instructed by Brennan Chancellor of the Covington County Sheriff’s Department and Josh Gandy of the Perry County Sheriff’s Department. This nationally recognized program prepares law enforcement officers to respond effectively to active shooter situations and other critical incidents that could occur in schools, hospitals, industrial facilities, businesses, or any other location within Perry County.

The ALERRT program provides standardized training used by law enforcement agencies across the United States, allowing officers from different jurisdictions to work together seamlessly during critical incidents.

Sheriff Garner wants the citizens and parents of Perry County to know that the safety of our students, teachers, school staff, and communities remains one of our highest priorities. Whether it is Beaumont, New Augusta, Runnelstown, Perry Central, or Richton schools, the Perry County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring our deputies are prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any threat.

Sheriff Garner stated, “We continue to pray that the skills learned during this training are never needed in Perry County. However, anyone who intends to threaten our schools or our community should know that our deputies are well-trained, prepared, and will respond without hesitation with one mission—to protect the lives of Perry County’s children, school staff, and citizens.”

07/29/2026

Please help us wish Dispatcher, Hogan Harvison a Happy Birthday!! Hogan, we’re thankful for all you do and hope you enjoy your day!!