Slaying suspect Derrell Green, right, is escorted into the Vicksburg Police Department Wednesday by Vicksburg Patrolman Randy Blake, left, and Sgt. Doug King.(The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[12/13/01] A Vicksburg man was arrested Wednesday and charged with murder in the slaying the night before of his longtime girlfriend.

Separately, an autopsy performed Wednesday night found that Cynthia Green, 24, died from strangulation, not stabbing, as officials believed after her body was found inside her home at 206 Meadow Lane Tuesday night.

Derrell Antonio Green, 27, 107 Elizabeth Circle, surrendered to police at 229 Meadowvale Drive, Vicksburg Police spokesman Jamee Carter said. He was in the Warren County jail without bond this morning.

The autopsy, performed at Mississippi Mortuary Services in Rankin County, found Cynthia Green received a non-fatal stab wound and her official cause of death will be listed as strangulation, Warren County Coroner John Thomason said today.

Miss Green was stabbed once in the mid-to-upper back with an unknown weapon, Thomason said Wednesday.

Derrell Green had been sought since soon after the death was reported at 9:48 p.m. Tuesday. A warrant had been issued based on information from another woman in the house at the time of the attack. He was arrested at 11:17 a.m. Wednesday, Carter said.

The Greens were not related, and no motive had been established, Carter said.

Derrell Green’s aunt said this morning that her nephew and Miss Green had been romantically involved for seven years and they are the parents of a 3-year-old son.

Tuesday’s killing was the sixth this year in Warren County including three reported in Vicksburg.

The first occurred Jan. 25 when 28-year-old William “Birt” Ross strangled his estranged wife Virginia “Angel” Massey Ross.

Her body was found in a wooded area near the Big Black River Feb. 2.

Birt Ross was sentenced to life in prison May 1.

The second was April 18 when James Turner, 32, who was shot and killed outside a Mundy Street home.

Reginald Carter was indicted in July for murder, but the case was represented in October and jurors declined to indict him in Turner’s death.

Three months later, Steve D. Warren died after being stabbed in the leg with a paring knife at the home of his girlfriend, Jacqueline Williams.

Williams, 39, 223 Demby Drive, was arrested in Warren’s death and awaits action by the January grand jury.

On July 24 Eddie Baker, 38, was shot and killed near the corner of Clay and Cherry streets.

Bryan Wilson, 17, was arrested and charged with his murder the next day.

His case will be presented to the January grand jury.

On Aug. 19 Joe Hartzog, 56, was found shot and burned inside his truck in the driveway at 385 Culkin Road.

Donald Wilson, 62, was later arrested and charged in the death.

His case is also awaiting grand jury action.