Members of the New Hebron Baptist Church in New Hebron, Mississippi, are in shock after their longtime pianist and her husband were found murdered inside their home last Wednesday. A 17-year-old boy who was reportedly hired to help around their farm was arrested and charged with their deaths, authorities and neighbors said.
The couple, Bill Blair, 74, and Carol Blair, 71, were found dead inside their home on W.L. Blair Road, WAPT 16 reported. Investigators say 17-year-old Cordarius Hobbs was charged with their murders as well as armed robbery, burglary and home invasion. Hobbs was taken into custody after a shootout with police during which he shot a Simpson County deputy.
Glenda Westmoreland, who has been the secretary at New Hebron Baptist Church for more than 36 years, told The Christian Post on Monday that Carol Blair had served as their church’s pianist for more than 30 years, and her husband had been part of their security team for about the same time. When they heard about the shooting, Westmoreland said members just began praying through the shock.
“It was mostly praying the whole time we had heard that this was going on,” Westmoreland said.
Authorities say shortly before 12:30 p.m. on June 3, deputies responded to the couple’s home near Mendenhall after relatives reported they were unable to reach them. When deputies arrived, Simpson County Sheriff Paul Mullins said the front door was open.
Hobbs allegedly opened fire on deputies from inside the home and injured one deputy, who is now recovering at home. A six-hour standoff between the teen and authorities followed until they fired teargas inside the home, forcing Hobbs to run out of the house, but he continued firing at officers.
A Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper fired back at the teenager, and he suffered a non-life-threatening injury. He was treated at a local hospital before he was transported to jail.
On Sunday, the church honored the couple’s service with floral tributes.
Westmoreland said when the church first heard of the murders, “we were just kind of out in shock.”
She said Hobbs was well known in the community and used to take the school bus with other neighborhood children. He was also known to be frequently arrested.
“Every time he got arrested, he ended up getting let go, you know. I really don’t know a whole lot about it other than Billy and Carol. They are just the type of people to help,” Westmoreland said.
The church secretary said Bill Blair would normally do work around his farm himself, but after he began experiencing health issues, he hired the teen to help.
“They just thought that they would help him out, ’cause Billy usually did all his stuff himself, but he was having some health issues, and … was trying to sell some of his land and sell a tractor, and different stuff,” Westmoreland recalled. “I think the kid realized he had sold some stuff and maybe would have a lot of money. I don’t know if that’s what he had in mind or what.”
Hobbs was denied bond at his initial court appearance on June 5.
When asked what she would like to see happen to him, Westmoreland said she wanted to see the teenager saved, but she also wants him to pay for his crime.
“Well, first of all, I’d love to see him get saved,” she said. “[But I] would like to see him not let go. I’m scared that if they were just to let him go, this would probably happen again.”
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