Accused murder accomplice charged; girlfriend sought

Published 11:40 am Tuesday, September 15, 2015

A Warren County man accused of aiding a murder suspect was held without bail Tuesday and his girlfriend was on the lam.

Steven Paul Breedlove, 30, who lists an address on Beverly drive but had been living at 660 Standard Hill Road with Raja Tedder, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder in the shooting death of 43-year-old Joseph Acuff Jr., Sheriff Martin Pace said.

“They aided Tamares Dillon in his departure from the scene and in concealing his location,” Pace.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

A warrant has been issued for Tedder’s arrest, but she had not been captured by noon Tuesday.

“She has disconnected contact with her own family and has not returned phone calls from Investigator Stacy Rollison,” Pace said.

Anyone with information about Tedder is encouraged to call the sheriff’s office at 601-636-1761 or Central Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 601-355-8477. Callers to Crime Stoppers remain anonymous and do not have to testify in court. Crime Stoppers will pay a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of a felony suspect.

Breedlove was working on a Jeep with Dillon, 35, 118 Lightcap Blvd., Saturday at Tedder’s home when authorities say Acuff arrived at the residence. An argument ensued, and Dillon shot once, killing Acuff.

Justice Court Judge James Jefferson declined to set bail Monday for Dillon, who said the shooting was an act of self defense. Dillon was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm after felony conviction. He was convicted in August 2002 in California of possession of cocaine, according to the arrest affidavit against him read Monday in justice court.

Dillon was also set to go to trial for murder Oct. 12 for the 2012 shooting death of Mardy Eugene Blackmore at the Vanguard Apartments.

He was arrested in November 2012 following Blackmore’s death but was allowed to post bail in March 2014 after spending 17 months in jail awaiting trial in the 2012 case.

Circuit M. James Chaney set bail at $100,000 after hearing motions from Dillon’s defense attorney, Brannan Southerland. Prosecutors objected to bail being set in the case, District Attorney Ricky Smith said.

Dillon’s trial in the 2012 murder was delayed at least four times. Child molestation cases went to trial or ended in pre-trial guilty pleas each of those weeks.

Dillon was arrested again about 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the home of Shelly T. Walker, 40, 120 Redhawk Road, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

Pace said Dillon was in a bedroom of the home and had a 12-gague shotgun next to him at the time of his arrest. Dillon denied having the weapon.

During his arrest, deputies found guns, crystal methamphetamine, small plastic bags and a digital scale, and received a search warrant for the home, Pace said.

Walker, who is on house arrest for a drug conviction in Copiah County, was wearing a Mississippi Department of Corrections inmate-monitoring ankle bracelet at the time of her arrest, Pace said.

She is charged with two counts of possession of a weapon after felony conviction and possession of meth with intent to distribute. Jefferson set bail for her at a total of $100,000.

A third suspect in the case, Jeffery Eatmon, 35, 2816 Drummond St., was in the home with Walker and Dillon when the drugs and guns were found. He is also charged with possession of meth and possession of a firearm after felony conviction.

Jefferson set his bail at $75,000.