HOUSTON COUNTY: On November 26, 2021 co-workers of Hardy Lynn Gray, age 56, went to his house located on Billy Cherry Road in Pansey to check on him. Gray had failed to show for work and co-workers had been unable to contact him. On their arrival they found the 56 year old Hardy Lynn Gray laying facedown on the kitchen floor deceased.
Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza and members of Houston County Sheriff Department responded to the scene. Investigation indicated that Gray was shot 5 – 6 times in his house. His body was found near the back door.
Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigators began a detailed investigation. On November 30, 2021 Houston County Sheriff Criminal Investigators began making arrests. When they were completed a total of five people were arrested for Captal Murder and other offenses. Some were minors, but Ciera Lushawn Goodson, Mykeila Rowser and Elijah Hazell were three of the four adults arrested.
Today, before 20th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Butch Binford the trial for Ciera Lushawn Goodson kicked off. Court appointed to represent Goodson are Attorney’s Derek Yarbrough and Shaun McGhee. If convicted, Goodson could face the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole. According to information Goodson calimed to confess to being the shooter but evidence indicates otherwise. Goodson is reported to have an extremely low IQ.
Under former 20th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Pat Jones Mykeila Rowser entered a plea agreement deal to plead guilty in exchange for a 15 year sentence. On November 20, 2023 Rowser was sentenced to 15 years and given a jail credit of 1 year and 245 days pf which she had spent in the Houston County Jail before entering guilty plea. UNCONFIRMED the only offers under this 20th Judicial Circuit District Attorney, Russ Goodman, has been life or 40 years.
The trial is expected to take most of the week. Houston County Sheriff Department investigated the case and made the arrest(s).
