LAKE, Miss. — Rodkis Fenderson and his wife, Kierra Patrick, have been arrested and charged after the body of a 3-year-old boy was discovered in Lake, Mississippi. The child had allegedly been beaten to death in January and buried by his father and stepmother.
Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee confirmed the charges, stating that the child had not been seen or heard from by extended family members since January. At the time, he was living with his father, Fenderson, and stepmother, Patrick, but no official report of the child being missing was made.
WDAM reports that Fenderson and Patrick initially gave authorities conflicting stories about the child’s whereabouts. However, on Friday, Fenderson led deputies to the site where the child had been buried, resulting in the arrests of both individuals.
Fenderson faces a murder charge, while Patrick has been charged as an accessory after the fact. Authorities have stated that the child was allegedly beaten to death on January 26, 2025.
