Rankin investigators probe death of woman in wheelchair

Rankin County detectives are looking for information that could help them solve a Wednesday afternoon homicide.

Undersheriff Raymond Duke said in a release that Kimberly Rainer Schrader, 51, was found slumped over in her mechanical chair in her living room by a neighbor at her home on Floyd Street, between Richland and Florence.

The neighbor had seen a water leak in her front yard and was trying to let her know about it, and when she did not answer the door, the neighbor entered her home to check on her.

He called 911 around 4 p.m., and investigators came to the scene, where they found no signs of forced entry or of a fight. Schrader does appear to have trauma to the head. Rankin County Coroner David Ruth has transported her to the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy.

Authorities said they believe robbery may have been the motive in the apparent homicide, and that they have interviewed "a couple of persons of interest."

The sheriff's department asks that anyone with information on Kimberly Schrader's death contact them at 601-825-1480 or email tips@rankincounty.org.

SEE ALSO: Black and Blue: Black officers in Miss. straddle line

MORE CRIME NEWS: Monticello police chief: Man kills girlfriend, self

Contact Therese Apel at tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.