Gulfport woman arrested for First Degree Murder

Press Release:
On January 20, 2024, the Gulfport Police Department arrested 66-year-old Jerri Lynn Isreal/ Roby and charged her with one count of 1st Degree Murder.

On December 22, 2023, at approximately 5:43 p.m., Officers of the Gulfport Police Department responded to a residence in the 2200 block of 16th Avenue in reference to a welfare concern regarding a possible missing person.

On December 27, 2023, Detectives conducted several follow-ups and began noticing discrepancies in statements provided by Isreal. Throughout the course of the investigation, Isreal became increasingly uncooperative and changed her statements multiple times. It was learned that Isreal was arrested and convicted of murder in Florida around 1995. Detectives further discovered that Isreal committed the murder and subsequently made several attempts to dump the deceased subject at different locations throughout Florida. With this additional information, Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence.

On January 18, 2024, at approximately 10:00 a.m., Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians conducted a search of the residence. At this time, Isreal was subsequently transported to a local area hospital for medical treatment. During the search of the residence, a wooden box containing a deceased subject, later identified as John Allen Gaither, was located behind a false wall.

Isreal was processed and transported to the Harrison County Adult Detention Center to be held in lieu of her bond.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Gulfport Police Department at 228-868-5959 or Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers at 877-787-5898.