A Mississippi woman, who had previously been convicted of murder in Florida in 1995, has been arrested again for allegedly killing her son and hiding his body behind a false wall. Jerri Lynn Isreal, 66, was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with first-degree murder by the Gulfport Police Department.
The investigation began when officers responded to a home on 16th Avenue on December 22, 2023, after receiving reports of a missing person. Through follow-up interviews with Isreal, detectives started noticing inconsistencies in her statements on December 27. As the investigation progressed, Isreal became increasingly uncooperative and changed her statements multiple times.
Detectives discovered that Isreal had previously been convicted of murder in Florida and had attempted to dispose of the body in various locations throughout the state. Armed with this information, investigators obtained a search warrant for Isreal’s home, which was executed on January 18, 2024.
During the search, detectives and crime scene technicians found a wooden box hidden behind a false wall. Inside the box was the body of John Allen Gaither, who was later confirmed to be Isreal’s son. Isreal was then transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment while authorities continued their investigation.
Isreal has been held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center following her processing at the police headquarters. The investigation is still ongoing, and the Gulfport Police Department encourages anyone with information about the incident to come forward.
To provide tips or information regarding the case, individuals can contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or the Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.
