Missing USM Student Is Found In Yalobusha
A University of Southern Mississippi (USM) student who had been missing for a week was found dead in his car on Hwy. 32 in Yalobusha County on Friday, Nov.13 around 5 p.m. He had been in his car for a week, according to authorities.
Steven Clay McGehee, 21, a freshman at USM, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Yalobusha County Coroner Ronnie Stark.
“I estimated that the time of his death was around 3 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6,” Stark said. McGehee had contacted his roommate two hours earlier, via text, to let him know that he had a pistol and was going to kill himself, Stark also reported.
The cell phone was also found inside McGehee’s car, a 2001 Ford Escort.
The car was located on Hwy. 32, parked at the barricade where the road is closed for bridge repairs.
“A construction worker found him,” Sheriff William “Lance” Humphreys reported. “They had seen the car parked there all week, but the body was slumped over where it was not noticeable,” Humphreys added. “With the road closed, there was no other traffic that would have noticed something suspicious.”
The discovery ended a week-long search for McGehee. In a press release sent out Monday, Nov. 9, the USM campus police made a plea to the public to be on the lookout for McGehee and his vehicle.
In the report, Southern Miss. Police Chief revealed that even though McGehee was initially listed as a missing person, he was at risk because authorities had obtained information that he may do harm to himself.
In the press release, investigators also speculated that McGehee could be travelling to Horn Lake or near Bruce.
“Initially the mystery was why McGehee was found in Yalobusha County,” Humphreys told the Herald. “After investigating the matter, we think he obtained a gun in Bruce and was headed north on 32, travelling until the road was closed for the bridge repairs,” Humphreys said.
A memorial service has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19 at 4 p.m. at Church Road Baptist Church in Horn Lake, for McGehee. The church is located at 3660 Church Road West in Horn Lake.
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This full text of the news release:
The body of Steven Clay McGehee, a University of Southern Mississippi freshman from Horn Lake missing since Nov. 6, was found dead Friday afternoon in Yalobusha County.
Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department officials discovered McGehee’s body in his car on a roadside. Officials suspect no foul play, and an autopsy will be conducted.
The last known contact with McGehee was via text message in the early morning hours of Nov. 6. He was reported missing by his roommate.
“It’s a sad day for us to learn that we’ve lost a member of the university family,” said Dr. Eddie Holloway, dean of students. “We take seriously our efforts to aid and assist all of our students. This is an unfortunate turn of events for his family and for Southern Miss.”
