BOONEVILLE, Miss. (VDN) — A Booneville man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree murder in the 2021 killing of Tiffany Copeland.
Russell Donail Williams, 68, entered the plea on April 3, 2025, in the Prentiss County Circuit Court. Senior Circuit Judge Paul Funderburk handed down the life sentence, ensuring Williams will spend the remainder of his life in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections without the possibility of parole under current state law.
The case was investigated by the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Office, Booneville Police Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Investigators Torie Jumper and Detective Corie Gann were credited with leading the evidence-gathering process that resulted in the conviction.
The prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorneys Joel Baldwin and Kyle Robbins, who praised the collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies.
Williams had been in custody since his arrest in 2021 and was officially held accountable for what was described as the “brutal murder” of Tiffany Copeland.
Officials expressed gratitude for the tireless work of investigators and urged the public to continue offering support and prayers to Copeland’s grieving family.
