By Fred Guarino
The Lowndes Signal

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office announced more arrests have been made in connection with an inmate contraband crackdown at the John Hulett Detention Facility in Hayneville and more firearms have been recovered in connection with a Lowndesboro burglary.

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Marcus Green said since a contraband crackdown at the facility was last reported in January, eight more warrants have been signed on inmates for being in possession of a cellular device (cell phone), including triple murder suspect Deandra Marquis Lee of Montgomery, for whom a warrant was also signed for promoting prison contraband first degree for another illegal item.

Lee is accused of the murder of 9-year-old twins Jordan and Taylor Dejerinett and their 73-year-old caretaker Jack Mac Girdner in Lowndes County.

Green said an illegal item was found on Lee, “which is another felony.” Green would not say what the item was possessed by Lee other than, “It was basically a homemade item which could cause injury to others.”

Green also reported that all the firearms taken in a January burglary on Owens Road in Lowndesboro have since been recovered.

He said following the recovered of a Magnum Research 22, a Ruger Mini 14 and a Ruger .357 magnum rifle were recovered.

“Through the cooperation of the citizens of Lowndes County and willingness to talk to law enforcement as well as the assistance other law enforcement agencies is what helped get the firearms back,” he said. Green said the cell phone is a major problem which all correctional facilities are having dealing with the state inmates “because once they get inside, you know they are prepaid phones, so they can sell for anywhere from $100 to $1,000 each.”