10-Year-Old Survives 23-Hour Hostage Standoff in Itawamba County

A 10-year-old girl was rescued in Itawamba County over the weekend after a man held her and her father hostage for more than 32 hours. Her father and the man holding them hostage were killed.

According to Mississippi Highway Patrol Spokesman John Poulos, on Saturday, Dec. 29, the Itawamba Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi Highway Patrol SWAT Team, wherein officers responded to a residence in Itawamba County involving a standoff with an unknown armed male suspect holding two hostages.

After 32 hours of negotiation, the MHP SWAT Team made entry inside the residence on Sunday, Dec. 30. The male hostage, identified as Paul Blackburn, was found deceased inside the residence.

MHP SWAT officers were able to safely rescue the 10-year-old female.

The male suspect, identified as Nathan Shepard, was fatally wounded and a weapon was recovered at the scene. MBI Special Agents, along with the MBI Crime Scene Unit, will gather all relevant interviews and evidence as part of this ongoing investigation.

All investigative findings will be provided to the District Attorney’s office for review.

Hottytoddy.com staff report