Mrs. Chambers should be thankful #Anonymous and The Conservative Treehouse are looking into the matter; without their interest—and posts—the Panola County Sheriff’s Office would be still waiting for “word to come in from the street” on Jessica’s killer. Those were the words used by the local sheriff during a press conference a few days ago.
I’m also guessing the Chambers family doesn’t want their past exposed. Public records show that her father and brother (now deceased) were indicated and jailed for running a meth lab 10 years ago. Despite his felony conviction, the elder Chambers still got a job as a mechanic with the Panola County Sheriff’s Office.
And the WTF moments just keep on comin’ Anonymous claims they have information linking the infamous, Yemeni-owned gas station with local gangs...and ties between those gangs and other street gangs in Memphis and Chicago. In fact, they just published the “roster” of the local Gangster Disciple chapter on-line. They have also questioned whether the gas station’s owners have paid their taxes, suggesting the hackers have access to banking/financial data.
To be sure, a lot of these posts are a blend of fact, rumor and innuendo. But Treehouse and Anonymous have done more to keep the story alive than any other group or individuals. Without them, the death of Jessica Chambers would be chalked up as another unsolved murder.
I should also give credit to CNN for digging into the case as well. One of their better investigative reporters, Drew Griffin, has been in Panola County and the sheriff threatened to come after him—after Griffin reported on some of the questionable hiring practices. It was revealed today that the sheriff’s cousin (a part-timer with the department) has been accused of statutory rape.
Personal note: I lived in a neighboring county for 10 years and owned a home in the area until 2010. Panola County is an absolute cesspool; if the feds do their job properly, lots of folks will be going to jail, and the trail may lead all the way back to radicals in Yemen.
Correction: indicted, not indicated.