A week after a charred body was found inside a burnt car at the City of Memphis impound lot, the Memphis Police Department has confirmed the body to be that of a missing Mississippi man.
The department has also brought charges against two 15-year-olds accused of stealing a car and running from police last Friday. Police say they are planning to bring charges against another 15-year-old who was shot by an officer while running.
And a Tennessee state representative wants to expand the offenses that a judge can require real-time GPS monitoring for, though the proposed program's details still remain scarce.
Here's what was on the docket for the week of July 29.
State rep. wants to see more real-time GPS monitoring used for people on bail
Tennessee State Rep. G.A. Hardaway, a Memphis Democrat, Wednesday morning proposed a pilot program that would see people charged with certain violent offenses who are out on bail be required to wear real-time GPS monitors.
Though not having a timeline, estimated cost, or specific details about how the program would operate, Hardaway said the program would roll out in Shelby County before potentially going to the Tennessee General Assembly and being rolled out statewide.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, who was present at the press conference when Hardaway announced the program, voiced support for it. Mulroy said the county would need "at least hundreds, if not over 1,000, of these "kinds of devices."
Though no price has been discussed, Hardaway said he believes part of the cost would be picked up by the state. It would also see buy-in from the city, county and suburban municipalities like Germantown, Lakeland and Millington, he said.
The program would be an extension of a recently passed law that allows judges to require, as a condition of their bail, that people charged with domestic violence offenses wear an ankle monitor that would notify victims of the defendant's location. The law went into effect July 1 this year.
The key to the program's success, Hardaway said, would be constant monitoring of real-time data.
"The key here is real time, so that when a violation occurs law enforcement can respond in a timely manner. If there's a victim that needs to be notified, they can take whatever evasive or protective procedures that they need to do," Hardaway said.
Though not having a list of offenses set in stone, Hardaway said reckless driving, gun theft, carjacking and motor vehicle theft charges could be included.
Juveniles charged with car theft after police chase, shoot at minor
Two 15-year-olds were charged with theft of property between $2,500 and $10,000 and evading arrest on foot after being arrested July 26, the Memphis Police Department said on social media.
A third 15-year-old was non-critically injured after an officer shot at him during the pursuit. MPD has not said what caused the officer to fire at the teen but said he was armed at the time. It is also unclear whether the teen was injured by gunfire or something else.
MPD has not responded to questions about the teen's injury or said why the officer fired at him.
More: Memphis nonprofit Just City sues over TN law limiting considerations on bail affordability
"Officers approached the suspects and three suspects fled on foot," a statement from MPD read. "Two juveniles were taken into custody immediately. A third, armed suspect continued running westbound on Winchester. For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated and an officer fired upon the suspect."
MPD said in a follow-up statement that the teen was still receiving treatment and that charges against him were pending.
Charred body found in city impound lot identified as missing Mississippi man
Days after charred human remains were found inside a vehicle at the City of Memphis' impound lot, the Memphis Police Department has confirmed that they belong to a man reported missing from Horn Lake, Mississippi.
The man, 20-year-old Jaderious Webb, was reported missing to Horn Lake police on July 20 at 11:31 a.m., MPD said in a statement.
The car that Webb's body was found in was first impounded early in the early hours of July 20. The Memphis Fire Department was putting out a car fire that morning, and Memphis police responded to the scene at 3:42 a.m. that day. Fire had "completely engulfed an unknown vehicle," MPD said in a statement.
Crime scene investigators took photos of the car, and MPD said neither MFD personnel nor MPD personnel saw charred remains inside the vehicle. It was not until two days later, on July 22, that the body was found by an officer doing additional work to identify the car.
Webb's remains were "discovered in the rear passenger area of the car," and the case is currently being investigated as a homicide. There is also an internal review being conducted into the incident, MPD said.
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Latest in Memphis' biggest cases
September will, if dockets hold true, be a stacked month for some of Memphis' high-profile cases. Three trials are slated to begin at the start, middle and end of September.
The criminal case against three men accused of plotting, then carrying out, the shooting that killed Young Dolph in November 2021 is moving toward trial after multiple motions were filed and a new judge was assigned to the case.
Hernandez Govan, the man prosecutors allege masterminded the plot, and Jermarcus Johnson, who was believed to have facilitated payments after the shooting and has entered a plea deal , were in court Monday morning for a report date.
More: Trial has been set for the Young Dolph murder case — again. Here's where it stands
Though nothing of substance took place during the court appearance, Shelby County Criminal Court Judge Jennifer Mitchell told the two men that there would only be one more report date before the trial begins on Sept. 23.
The trial will also feature the two men accused of actually shooting Young Dolph, Justin Johnson and Cornelius Smith . Jermarcus Johnson is Justin Johnson's half-brother, and prosecutors have said he may be called to testify during the trial.
On the federal level, attorneys in the criminal Tyre Nichols case have continued to file motions under seal. A hearing date has not been set for the matters being argued in the motions, but a pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 5. That court date is just over a month before the trial is set to begin on Sept. 9.
The case against Eduard Rodriguez-Tabora, charged in the killing of Memphis Rev. Autura Eason-Williams in July 2022, will head to trial on Sept. 30. That case will have a hearing on Aug. 20 over Rodriguez-Tabora's request for a Nashville jury .
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: State rep. wants GPS tracking for certain crimes, burned body IDed by MPD | On the Docket
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