The Gazebo Gazette
GULFPORT (GG) — Alexis Dwight Preston, of Delisle (rural Pass Christian), pled guilty this week at the Harrison County Courthouse to Second-Degree Murder and Kidnapping for the July 3, 2022 murder of Cody Smith that occurred in Delisle. Circuit Judge Lisa Dodson sentenced Preston to 73 years, with 45 years to serve in prison, followed by 28 years of post-release supervision, and restitution to Cody Smith’s parents for funeral expenses. The first 40 years of Preston’s sentence must be served day-for-day in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Co-Defendant Angel “Lexi” Pierce pled guilty in March of this year to First-Degree Murder and Armed Robbery and received a sentence of Life in prison consecutive to 30 years. Co-Defendant Jerry Parkman also pled guilty in March and received a sentence of 40 years, after assisting law enforcement with locating the body of the victim.
“The remains of Cody Smith’s body were located by the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office ten months after the homicide occurred in Delisle on property adjacent to the family homestead of Alexis Preston. The Sheriff’s Office received a missing person tip from the Byram Police Department, and Private Investigator Cory Seal, that Cody was last seen in Harrison County with the Defendants in early July 2022. His body was later found by deputies in a decomposed state in a wooded area several hundred yards from the Preston home. When interviewed, Co-Defendant Jerry Parkman described that he, Angel Pierce, and Alexis Preston took Smith into the woods by gunpoint and killed him after an armed robbery involving Angel Pierce’s desire to take Cody’s car. Angel Pierce and other witnesses later corroborated Jerry Parkman’s statement during the course of the investigation,” said Assistant District Attorney Chris Daniel, who prosecuted the case with ADA Haley Broom.
During the plea hearing, Judge Dodson thoroughly questioned Preston regarding his involvement, and stated, “You knew what was going to happen. You knew exactly what was going to happen…and you’re the man with the gun. So you’re the man who can make a difference, but you didn’t. You stood there and watched them stab him and beat him. You don’t run, you don’t call anybody, and you don’t try to stop them, right? And then you let him sit down there and rot. You don’t even call for help after they’re gone. Is that what you are telling me?” Preston, replied, “Yes, Your Honor.”
Prior to sentencing, Preston apologized to the family and stated, “God has been dealing with me every night and day.”
During the hearing, Cody’s mother, Cherie Smith, addressed the Court and stated, “Cody was a good kid. He would help anyone he could. Cody did nothing to deserve the disgusting things you did to him. You didn’t know Cody, and he did nothing to you. Only a person with a hardened conscience and motivated by demons could be so cruel to another human that did nothing to you. There was nothing for you to gain. I hope you never get Cody’s face and what you did to him, out of your head. I hope you think of that every day for the rest of your life.”
“It should be noted that Cody had been missing from his home in Byram for over 10 months with no leads or answers for his family. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office never stopped investigating this case until Cody’s family had answers and the people responsible for this senseless and brutal crime were held accountable. The outstanding work of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office enabled the Court to see the heinous nature of the crime and hold each defendant accountable for their specific role. The Smith family has been in continued communication with our office and we are hopeful that the sentences handed down will assist them their healing,” said District Attorney W. Crosby Parker.
