Accused sex offender found dead at his home

At 7:46 a.m. this morning, Vicksburg Warren 911 received a call that a man had been found deceased in his home.

First responders arrived on the scene and entered the home with a family member. When they entered they found the body of Marshall Smith, 81.

Last week, Smith was arrested and accused of the sexual battery of a child under the age of 16. Shell Hagan, 18, was also arrested in the case and charged with being an accessory before the fact in that crime. Hagan, according to Sheriff Pace, befriended the victim and then transported the victim to Smith where the alleged sexual battery occurred.

District Attorney Ricky Smith stated to the Vicksburg Daily News that the adjudication process in the case will be closed for Smith’s part of the action. Any others involved in the case could still be prosecuted.

The coroner has yet to respond to the Vicksburg Daily News on this event.