This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video

(Tunica, MS) Tunica investigators believe the man in charge of the murder investigation, was actually the murderer himself.

Willie “Cat Daddy” Starks has been in prison several years now, on other charges, so witnesses finally felt they could come forward without repercussions.

May Abby Sutton says she’ll never forget the day she discovered her brother’s body lying face down in the dirt, dead, "I woke up and my husband said ‘someone’s outdoors laying down’ I walked up, I remember what he had on the night before he left and I knew that was my brother.”

The Murder of James, Ju-Man Carter made headlines in Tunica County, which at the time, had a bit of a crime wave going on.

Carter was a bartender at “Club Sigg” which stood on this corner.

He was seen leaving work, but never made it home alive.

Deputies charged three men in the murder, but eventually released them for lack of evidence.

The case lay cold for years, until investigators took a fresh look at Tunica cold cases.

What they learned from witnesses, shocked them.

They now, believe the former Tunica Chief Deputy, Willie “Cat Daddy” Starks killed Carter over gambling and personal issues, and that’s not all, ”He reported back to the crime scene. He was in charge of the case. There was a lot of framework that was taking place.” said Tunica Sheriff K.C. Hamp.

In other words, investigators believe he actually framed the other men.

Not long after the murder, “Cat Daddy” and others were caught in a federal corruption sweep in Tunica and sent to prison.

Sheriff K.C. Hamp says Starks’ alleged connection to the murder made sense, ”I wasn’t totally surprised, there was a lot of things going on back in 1998, 1999.”

In fact there had been rumors all over town that Chief Starks was involved in Carter’s murder, but no one would come forward to speak out against the County’s number two lawman.

Carter’s sister says, thank goodness time changed that, ”I appreciate everything they did do bring justice and closure to my family, now my brother can rest in peace.”

“Cat Daddy” remains in federal prison on his prior charges, but now faces Capitol Murder charges along with obstruction of justice.

His brother-in law Jimmy Bowman is charged as an accessory.

Both are being held on one million dollars bond.