Investigators with the Chattanooga Police Department’s Homicide Unit have arrested 20-year-old Reginald Mapp for the murder of JoAnn Desha.
Ms. Desha, 75, was found dead Saturday morning at her home at 2302 Marco Circle. She had been strangled with an electrical cord from a vacuum cleaner.
Police said when they responded to the Desha residence, Ms. Desha was lying lifeless in the living room floor. She had been found by her daughter and her husband, who called 911. She was found with the vacuum cleaner cord still around her neck.
Police said it was later learned that the keys to her Cadillac, the rings on her fingers and her cellphone were missing from the home.
During the investigation, Mapp was identified as a suspect. Police executed a search warrant today (Friday) at Mapp's home, which is just down the street from the Desha residence at 2330 Marco Circle. The keys to the Cadillac and the owner's manual were found in Mapp's bedroom.
Mapp was interviewed and he denied causing Ms. Desha's death. He said he had gone last Friday to her home and bought her Cadillac for $200. He said she could not find the title to the car, but gave him the keys and the owner's manual.
Mapp is in custody at the Hamilton County Jail and has been charged with felony murder, aggravated robbery, and especially aggravated robbery. He is held under $600,000 bond.
Marco Circle is off Standifer Gap Road.