Overall, Mississippi is a pretty safe place. However, the state isn’t totally free of crime. And according to Thought Catalog’s list of the most notorious murderer from each state, one of Mississippi’s worst crimes was committed by Carla Ann Hughes in 2006.
Dubbed Mississippi’s most notorious murderer, Carla Ann Hughes has been convicted of two counts of capital murder.
leslie cirilo /YouTube Her heinous crime took place in November of 2006, when she murdered her lover’s pregnant fiancée, Avis Banks.
By all accounts, she had a normal upbringing and even excelled in school.
Flacourtophile/Wikimedia Hughes was born in 1981 and raised in Greenville. Much of her childhood was spent horseback riding and competing in beauty pageants. She eventually moved to Hattiesburg to attend the University of Southern Mississippi. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree, she went on to Delta State University. She continued her education until her arrest, at which time she was working on her doctorate.
The fact that Hughes was a teacher at the time makes her crime even more shocking.
alamosbasement/Flickr Hughes began her career as an elementary school teacher. Eventually, however, she accepted a job as a language arts teacher at Chastain Middle School in Jackson.
After beginning her job in Jackson, Hughes forged a relationship, which would have everlasting consequences.
Akash Kataruka/Flickr While working at Chastain Middle School, Hughes began an intimate relationship with Keyon Pittman, a fellow teacher and basketball coach. At the time, Pittman’s fiancee’, Avis Banks, was pregnant with his child.
On the night of November 29, 2006, Pittman discovered the lifeless body of Banks in the garage of their Ridgeland home.
Alan/Flickr It appeared as if a someone kicked in the back door to gain access to the home. Once inside, the perpetrator shot and stabbed Banks. Immediately after discovering his deceased fiancée, Pittman called Hughes, piquing the interest of investigators.
Initially, Hughes denied being involved in a relationship with Pittman as well as having access to a gun.
Lisa Zins/Flickr It didn’t take long for police to find proof that Hughes was lying. Shortly after the murder, Hughes’ cousin told police that he let her borrow a loaded 38 caliber revolver – the same type of weapon used in the slayings. Furthermore, the gun was empty when she returned it.
On December 8, 2006, Hughes was officially charged with two counts of capital murder. Her trial began several years later in October of 2009.
Penn State/Flickr Aside from motive and the weapon, prosecutors provided some pretty incriminating evidence. In addition to cell phone records confirming that Hughes was near Banks and Pittman’s home at the time of the murder, her shoes matched prints left on the back door.
It didn’t take long for the jury to return a guilty verdict.
leslie cirilo /YouTube On October 13, 2009, after just 8 hours of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict. Hughes was found guilty of two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Avis Banks and her unborn child. Rather than the death penalty, which she was eligible for, Hughes was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole.
Over the years, the case has been featured on numerous TV shows, including Forensic Files, Dateline, Snapped, Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets, Scorned: Love Kills, and Fatal Attraction.
leslie cirilo /YouTube
Her heinous crime took place in November of 2006, when she murdered her lover’s pregnant fiancée, Avis Banks.
Flacourtophile/Wikimedia
Hughes was born in 1981 and raised in Greenville. Much of her childhood was spent horseback riding and competing in beauty pageants. She eventually moved to Hattiesburg to attend the University of Southern Mississippi. After earning her Bachelor’s Degree, she went on to Delta State University. She continued her education until her arrest, at which time she was working on her doctorate.
alamosbasement/Flickr
Hughes began her career as an elementary school teacher. Eventually, however, she accepted a job as a language arts teacher at Chastain Middle School in Jackson.
Akash Kataruka/Flickr
While working at Chastain Middle School, Hughes began an intimate relationship with Keyon Pittman, a fellow teacher and basketball coach. At the time, Pittman’s fiancee’, Avis Banks, was pregnant with his child.
Alan/Flickr
It appeared as if a someone kicked in the back door to gain access to the home. Once inside, the perpetrator shot and stabbed Banks. Immediately after discovering his deceased fiancée, Pittman called Hughes, piquing the interest of investigators.
Lisa Zins/Flickr
It didn’t take long for police to find proof that Hughes was lying. Shortly after the murder, Hughes’ cousin told police that he let her borrow a loaded 38 caliber revolver – the same type of weapon used in the slayings. Furthermore, the gun was empty when she returned it.
Penn State/Flickr
Aside from motive and the weapon, prosecutors provided some pretty incriminating evidence. In addition to cell phone records confirming that Hughes was near Banks and Pittman’s home at the time of the murder, her shoes matched prints left on the back door.
On October 13, 2009, after just 8 hours of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict. Hughes was found guilty of two counts of capital murder for the deaths of Avis Banks and her unborn child. Rather than the death penalty, which she was eligible for, Hughes was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without parole.
Learn about another infamous crime in “This Is The Number One Unsolved Mystery In Mississippi And It Will Leave You Baffled.“
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