Lee County Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in stabbing death, suspect was on probation for aggravated assault

On February 21, 2021, at 12:23 hours, The Lee County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to residence on CR 2204 to a report of a stabbing.

The Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the scene and found a male victim identified as Randall Cowley, 55 years of age, address Saltillo MS with injuries to chin, stab wound to shoulder, and a stab wound in chest area.   There were two nurses passing by that rendered aid to Mr. Cowley until medics arrived.   Mr. Cowley was transported to NMMC by ambulance and later died.

During the investigation, it was determined that the incident took place at another residence down the road from where Mr. Cowley was found, but still on CR 2204.

Mr. Cowley and the suspect were acquaintances and had been together in the past. During this incident, Mr. Cowley and suspect got into an altercation that resulted in Mr. Cowley being stabbed.

Shortly after the incident, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department took the suspect into custody at the crime scene as a person of interest.

Suspected was identified as:

Maurice Agnew, 54 years of age, Baldwyn Address

Charged: Manslaughter

Bond – $1,000,000.00

Note:

In 2018, Agnew was convicted of Aggravated Assault stemming from cutting a victim in the throat. Agnew was sentenced to 20 years. Agnew spent two years and five months of that sentence in the Lee County Jail and the remainder of his 20-year sentence was suspended and he was released.

He is currently on probation from the 2018 conviction.