Mississippi Mom Found Dead After Leaving Her Job Delivering Domino's Pizza

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Hilerca “Latrice” Dortch, 31, Found Dead In Mississippi After Leaving To Deliver Domino’s Pizza

Sad news for the family of 31-year-old Hilerca “Latrice” Dortch, whose body was found this Tuesday. Dortch was last seen alive leaving the Domino’s Pizza where she worked, according to People reports.

Dortch’s aunt, Tammie Dortch told the Clarion-Ledger, her niece was last seen around 2 p.m. Friday, leaving Domino’s on a delivery. The Domino’s franchise owner, Molly Yildirim, would not confirm whether or not Dortch was leaving for a delivery, citing the ongoing investigation.

Dortch’s family was alerted after a farmer feeding his cows discovered her empty car the next day in a field behind shrubbery and an abandoned house. Some of Dortch’s belongings were found in the vehicle, but there was no trace of her.

“If he hadn’t been out there feeding his cows, we would have never known she was missing,” Tammie Dortch, told the Clarion-Ledger. “We would think ‘We’ll see her next week sometime. She’ll pop up eventually.’”

On Tuesday, Dortch’s body was found on the side of a highway nearly six miles from where her car had been abandoned according to WJTV reports.

Dortch was described as quiet and to herself but said she and her son would sometimes stay with her or her mother.

“Sometimes, she would pull up in my driveway and go to sleep in her own car. We were used to that. We wouldn’t even feel the need to call her because we know that’s just her way.”

“That is not what happened this time,” Dortch said. “I’m feeling like someone took her. This is just so different.”

Local police revealed they made an arrest in the case Friday, according to Clarion-Ledger reports. Terrance J. Caldwell was arrested at 9:45 p.m. Thursday by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department with the help of other law enforcement agencies, Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker announced Friday in a news release.

Caldwell is also wanted in connection with an armed robbery at 4 am Thursday morning at the Jasco Station on West Peace Street off I-55. The store clerk on duty, Ranjit Singh, was shot in the face but is expected to survive, WLBT-TV reported. Caldwell has been charged with armed robbery, attempted capital murder and possession of a firearm by a felon in relation to the robbery and shooting at Jasco Station, the release said. Caldwell will also be charged in relation to the slaying of Hilereca Dortch.

Jackson attorney Christopher Espy said he has been retained by the Dortch family to help investigate Hilereca’s death. The family released a statement Friday afternoon through Espy:

“The Dortch family is grief stricken and devastated by the tragic loss of Hilereca. A mother has lost a daughter, a 9-year(-old) boy has lost his mother and our community has lost a kind, beautiful young woman who will be missed (by) her friends and family.

The family appreciates the outpouring of support and condolences. The family also appreciates the efforts of Madison County Sheriff’s Department to quickly identify and apprehend a suspect in connection with this senseless crime.

We will continue to monitor the investigation as more details concerning her disappearance and death are uncovered.

In the meantime, the family has set up a memorial fund to assist with funeral expenses.”

If you’d like to contribute to the memorial fund you can do so HERE.

This story is frightening and we can only think about Dortch’s poor son having to spend Christmas without his mom. Prayers up for him and the rest of her family.