Collinwood Youth Found Dead in Mississippi, Uncle Charged with Manslaughter

Wayne Countians were shocked and saddened earlier this week to learn that a 17-year-old Collinwood youth was found dead in Mississippi, and his uncle is now facing a charge of manslaughter in that state along with a charge of fugitive from justice in Wayne County, Tennessee.

The body of Caden Cantrelle, age 17, formerly of Collinwood, was reportedly found in a deep ditch on the side of a road in Jasper, County, Mississippi, on Monday, July 7. At the time of his death, Cantrelle was in the custody of Tennessee Child Protective Services (CPS). Officials in Jasper County, Mississippi, reportedly received a call from CPS earlier that day stating that Cantrelle did not report back to CPS as required after a two-day pass, and may have been in their area. While we have no confirmation of the details surrounding the two-day pass, Cantrelle reportedly was supposed to have spent the two days visiting his uncle, Victor Jerome Carver III, who is a resident of Collinwood. This was allegedly with the full knowledge and consent of Tennessee Child Protective Service.

Cantrelle was not supposed to have left Tennessee on the visit, according to Jasper County, Mississippi, Sheriff Randy Johnson. However, Carver allegedly took Cantrelle to see family in Houma, Louisiana.

When Cantrelle didn’t check in with CPS on Monday, authorities contacted his father, who looked him up on Life 360 and saw a ping on Cantrelle’s phone from around Sunday at noon. Sheriff Johnson said his deputies were in the area where the phone pinged by 3:30 p.m. on Monday and started searching the area between where the ping came in and the interstate. They found Cantrelle’s body shortly after that, lying in some kudzu in a deep ditch about five feet off the edge of the road.

“If he’d been out there another 5-6 feet, we wouldn’t have found him,” Sheriff Johnson said. “It was a deep ravine.” The Sheriff went on to say that he believed the spot in Jasper County may have been a dump site rather than a primary crime scene.

Mississippi authorities charged Cantrell’s uncle, Victor Jerome “Jerry” Carver III, age 37, of Collinwood, Tennessee, with manslaughter after the discovery of Cantrelle’s body. They say they do believe foul play is involved based on the condition of the body and comments Carver made to other family members.

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by Jasper County, Mississippi, authorities that day, Monday, July 7, regarding the death investigation. Sheriff’s deputies apprehended Carver in the Woodlawn community just outside Collinwood later that day. Carver was taken to the Wayne County Jail and charged with being a fugitive from justice from his manslaughter charge in Mississippi. No word on if or when Carver will be extradited to Mississippi.

Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson stated that the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation has taken over the case against Carver. The Wayne County News will provide ongoing coverage of the case as it becomes available.