Mississippi man charged with the murder of his six-year-old half-brother

19-year-old Thomas Perry III has been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the death of his six-year-old half-brother in Carroll County.

Carroll County deputies responded to a fire on Saturday at the Vaiden Rentals Apartments. While at the scene, it was determined that the fire was intentionally set and Pittman’s body was found in a closet. It was determined that he was killed before the fire.

“The little boy King, he was the sweetest little boy,” said Carroll County resident Saudai Jackson to WLBT. “He was a sweetheart. He was friendly. [I] just can’t imagine it happening in this town, let alone right beside me something like this actually happened.”

“I’m literally traumatized every time I walk out the door. I see it, and someone was sweet enough to put balloons out there by the street. It’s all around me. I’m hurt; I’m just hurt. I just really, real life, can’t believe this happened,” Jackson said.

Perry was out on bond for a 2022 domestic violence-simple assault charge.

Perry was taken into custody on Sunday on murder, arson, and felony animal cruelty charges and given a $1.2 million bond on Tuesday. He is currently being held in the Carroll Montgomery Regional Correctional Facility.