NEWS

Woman found shot to death in Mississippi church

Sarah Fowler, and Therese Apel
The Clarion-Ledger
This is a file photo of emergency lights

A woman was found shot to death inside a Mississippi church Thursday night.

Brenda Strickland Pinter, 69, was found inside Dixon Baptist Church in Neshoba County shortly before 6 p.m., according to Neshoba County Sheriff Tommy Waddell.

Pinter appears to have died from a gunshot wound, Waddell said. However, the official cause of death is pending autopsy. It is unknown what time the shooting is believed to have occurred.

Pinter, who had gone to the church to clean, was discovered by her husband who was concerned when she hadn't returned home.

Pinter was a member of the church.

Waddell said a gun was not found on scene and there was no sign of forced entry at the church. The church is located on a "busy highway," Waddell said, approximately five miles south of the Neshoba County Fairgrounds.

The investigation is in the early phases, he said, and officials do not currently have a suspect.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Waddell said.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has been called in to assist as well as the Crime Scene Unit.

Waddell said his department and the community is "stunned" by Pinter's death.

"It's something that you wouldn't expect to happen here," he said.

Contact Sarah Fowler  at 601-961-7303 or sfowler@gannett.com . Follow her on Facebook  and Twitter .