The home of Annie Mae and Egnation Davenport at 2618 Roosevelt Ave., where the two were found slain Sunday night. Levi Bland, Annie Mae Davenport’s son, was in police custody.(The Vicksburg Post/C. TODD SHERMAN

[12/31/01]A Vicksburg nurse and her husband were found slain in their home in Marcus Bottom Sunday night, and her son was in the Warren County Jail charged with two counts of murder.

Levi Bland, who turns 33 today, was arrested Sunday night at the 2618 Roosevelt Ave. home he shared with the victims, Annie and Egnation Davenport, both 52, Vicksburg Deputy Police Chief Richard O’Bannon said. Bland was expected to appear in Vicksburg Municipal Court this afternoon.

“Bland told E-911 he had two people down” when the emergency call was made at 7:30, said Lt. Walter Beamon, the lead investigator.

O’Bannon said Egnation Davenport was stabbed and Annie Davenport was stabbed and shot.

Warren County Coroner John Thomason said he found both victims in one bedroom.

As a result, the coroner said, both bodies were sent to Mississippi Mortuary Services in Pearl where Dr. Steve Hayne was to perform autopsies tonight.

O’Bannon also said two knives and a handgun were recovered at the scene, but he would not specify what types they were.

Annie Davenport had been working as a private nurse, according to neighbors, and had two daughters who also live in Vicksburg, said a woman who was at the home this morning and identified herself as Annie Davenport’s godsister.

A neighbor and family friend said Egnation Davenport was a Vietnam veteran, possibly serving in the Army. He was also disabled and did not work.

The neighbor said he had not seen Bland in a couple of weeks and believed he may have been ill. He also said he believed Bland was not employed because of an injury to his back.

The victims and the suspect were the only three people living in the house, neighbors said.

Bland was arrested by Patrolmen Gevon Smith and Patrick Flowers.

The killings bring to eight the number of homicides in Vicksburg and Warren County in the year that ends tonight.

In the county, Angel Ross was killed in January. Her husband, Birt Ross, pleaded guilty and received a life sentence.

The second was Aug. 19 when Joe Hartzog was found shot and burned inside his truck at 385 Culkin Road. Donald Wilson was arrested in the case.

In the city, the first was April 18 when James Turner, 32, was found shot to death outside his Mundy Street home.

Next was when Steve D. Warren died as a result of a stab wound to the leg on Demby Drive July 19.

On July 24, Eddie Baker, 38, was shot near Clay and Cherry streets. Bryan Wilson was charged with murder.

On Dec. 13, Derrell Green, 27, was charged with murder in the killing of his longtime girlfriend Cynthia Green, 24, at her home on Meadow Lane.