in TSU student’s death

By BETH LAKEY

Staff Writer

A Pike County Grand Jury indicted 18-year-old Jonathan Antwan Rumph of Clayton of murder in the death of Troy State University student Brandi Hobson, according to information released by Troy Police Chief Anthony Everage.

The special session of the Grand Jury was called for Thursday to hear evidence in the death investigation of the 17-year-old Clio co-ed whose body was discovered on Sept. 3.

Rumph was taken into custody late Thursday and booked into the Pike County Jail under a $200,000 bond.

Hobson’s body was found just after midnight that Monday by her parents in room 111 of the all-female Clements Hall. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Pike County Coroner Jerry Williams.

The Troy Police Department became involved in the investigation on the request of the Troy State University Police Department. The TPD was assisted in the investigation by the Department of Forensic Sciences, District Attorney’s Office of the 12th Judicial Circuit, Barbour County Sheriff’s Department, Barbour County District Attorney’s Office and the Clio Police Department, Everage said.

Prior to a circuit judge being asked to call a special session of the Grand Jury, TSU officials said, "the initial impression by several people at the scene of her death was that there were no overt signs of struggle. However, when the evidence gathered was evaluated, indications were that further in-depth investigation was needed."

An autopsy was conducted to determine the cause of Hobson’s death, but the cause of death has not been released because of the special session of the Grand Jury.

It was awaiting that information that precluded university officials from releasing further information on Hobson’s death.

After much speculation by the public, authorities did say there was no evidence of an unknown assailant or perpetrator. They also reported Hobson’s death was not the result of use by any weapons and that there was no apparent break-in or signs of struggle.

The purpose of a Grand Jury is to examine evidence and determine whether there is enough to warrant holding a person for trial. An accused person is indicted and later stands trial.