Batesville Woman Charged with Attempted Murder After Bomb Found on Vehicle
LAFAYETTE COUNTY, MS — A Batesville woman is facing state and potentially federal charges following a multi-agency investigation into a homemade explosive device discovered on a vehicle in Lafayette County.
Christina Laureen Willis, 27, was arrested on August 4, 2025, after authorities executed a federal search warrant at her home on Highway 35 South in Panola County. She has been charged by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office with attempted murder and planting a bomb or weapon of mass destruction.
The investigation began on June 20, when deputies responded to a report of a suspicious package found on a vehicle in the southwestern portion of Lafayette County. The victim had already removed the package, which deputies secured for analysis.
On June 23, the Tupelo Bomb Squad and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed the package contained a live, homemade explosive, which was safely detonated in a secure location.
A joint investigation was then launched by the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division and the ATF. Over the following weeks, investigators executed multiple search warrants and issued Grand Jury subpoenas seeking physical, digital, and forensic evidence. That effort led to Willis being identified as a suspect.
During the August 4 search of Willis’s residence, law enforcement discovered bomb-making materials, homemade high explosive substances, firearms, and narcotics. Investigators also found another live explosive device, which was rendered safe at the scene by bomb technicians. Agencies involved in the operation included the ATF, Panola County Sheriff’s Office, Tupelo Bomb Squad, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Willis is currently being held at the Panola County Jail with a hold placed on her by Lafayette County authorities. She will be transported to the Lafayette County Detention Center at a later time. Meanwhile, the ATF is expected to present the case to a Federal Grand Jury, and Willis may face additional federal charges.
Sheriff Joey East of Lafayette County extended his appreciation to all agencies involved, stating,
“With the support from all of the agencies involved, we were able to conduct a safe and professional investigation.”
Due to the ongoing nature of the case, no further information is being released at this time.
