Jessica Chambers suspect could return after May 9 trial
An agreement between states indicates that an accused murderer may be brought back to Mississippi temporarily for trial even before he has served his full sentence in Louisiana.
Quinton Tellis, the man charged with capital murder in the December 2014 burning death of Courtland teen Jessica Chambers, faces a May 9 court date in Ouachita Parish for crimes related to the death of a Monroe, Louisiana, woman. Mississippi authorities want to see him face his day in court in the Magnolia state as well.
Chambers was found by responders on Dec. 6, 2014, burned alive, on the road near her burning car. It kicked off a 14-month investigation that relied primarily on forensic evidence because a distinct lack of street chatter made pinning down suspects extremely difficult for investigators.
Tellis admitted to investigators that he was the last one to see her alive, but he has not confessed to killing her.
Tellis was indicted by a Panola grand jury in February.
Extradition papers sent from Gov. Phil Bryant's office to the office of Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana ask that Tellis be sent back to Mississippi for trial even if he spends out his days in prison in Louisiana.
Panola County District Attorney John Champion said that even if Tellis is not convicted in Louisiana, there will be a detainer on him in Mississippi and he will be brought back to Panola County to face charges in the Chambers case.
"If you're in Louisiana and you have charges pending on you down there, then you will face your charges there, and if you're convicted and sentenced it changes over from a governor's warrant to an executive agreement," Champion said. "That means that we're borrowing you from the state of Louisiana for trial and we promise to send you back."
Tellis, who lived in Panola County until he moved to Louisiana in 2015, was found in possession of items belonging to a woman who had been stabbed to death in Louisiana. He is charged with capital murder in Mississippi, and was indicted as a habitual offender under Mississippi law because of two previous burglary convictions and a felony fleeing conviction.
He is currently in the Ouachita Parish Jail in Monroe on charges related to the stabbing death of Meing-Chen Hsiao, 34, of Taiwan.
Tellis was living in Monroe with his new wife when he was arrested in August by the Monroe Police Department and charged with crimes connected to Hsaio's death. The University of Louisiana at Monroe graduate lived in an apartment complex, and she and Tellis knew each other, said Monroe police.
Officials say Hsaio, who was known as "Mandy," died of a stab wound. Local media reports say she had been missing for more than a week when her body was found Aug. 8. Police said Hsiao's homicide appeared to be very personal.
Tellis has not been charged with Hsiao's murder, but according to jail records, he has been charged with three counts of unauthorized use of an access card and one count of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
The police report says Tellis allegedly used a Chase Bank debit card belonging to Hsiao on Aug. 7 at around 11 p.m. On that transaction, he charged $.07. When it was used again on Aug. 18, it was used at 10:35 p.m. for $500 and again at 3:04 a.m. for another $500. Police said there were ATM surveillance photos of Tellis using the card, and after being Mirandized, he allegedly admitted to using the debit card on all three occasions.
During a search at his house, authorities said they found a quarter pound of marijuana in a bedroom. The report says the drugs were packaged for sale. Police in Monroe have said they feel confident that Tellis could be indicted in Hsaio's death as well.
If Tellis is convicted in Louisiana as a habitual offender, he will spend life in prison without parole.
Once his trial is over, Mississippi officials will know more about when he will be able to face charges in his home state.
Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.