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Man sentenced in death of woman at Economy Inn in Jackson

By Kaitlin Howell Jan 29, 2024 | 3:08 PM

HINDS COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – A 76-year-old man pled guilty in connection to the shooting death of a 20-year-old woman.

Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens said Clyde Hawkins was charged with second-degree murder in connection to the death of Diamond Ducksworth Graham.

On January 4, 2022, Graham’s body was discovered in the parking lot of the Economy Inn on West Northside Drive in Jackson. Police said Hawkins, who was a guest at the motel, was taken into custody.

Jackson police recovered the murder weapon in Hawkins’ vehicle, as well as spent shell casings from his pockets.

According to Owens, the forensic evidence showed that Graham was shot seven times as she fled naked from the motel room to escape Hawkins.

Clyde Hawkins (Courtesy: Hinds County Detention Center)

Hawkins’ murder trial was set to begin on Monday, January 29, 2024, but he changed his plea to guilty. He was sentenced to 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) with five years suspended and five years of post-release supervision.