David Rester, Jr. in Harrison County, MS County Jail.
51-year-old David Rester, Jr. of Vidalia, who’s wanted in connection with the March 3rd murder of Marl Wayne Smith in Washington Parish has been arrested in Mississippi after a multi-state, parish, and county crime spree. Washington Parish Chief Deputy Mike Haley said investigators traveled to Harrison County to interview him after he was arrested for a bank robbery in Waveland.
“But he confessed to the murder of Marl Wayne Smith in Bogalusa. I think St. Tammany Parish is also seeking him on an armed robbery at a convenience store in Pearl River,” said Haley.
Rester is also wanted in St. Tammany Parish for the February 27th physical and sexual assault of a convenience store clerk that took place during a robbery. Haley said prior to these most recent crimes, Rester did not have a criminal record.
“And as far as his motive, for this crime spree I don’t think anyone’s been able to determine that yet,” said Haley.
Authorities finally arrested Rester after a highspeed chase of up to 120 miles per hour in Harrison County, Mississippi. Haley said they plan to seek the death penalty in Washington Parish, and they are grateful he’s been apprehended.
“I’m sure if he had gotten away with the bank robbery in Waveland, Mississippi, he would have struck somewhere else. One person has already been murdered, another person already physically and sexually assaulted, it needed to come to an end,” said Haley.
Haley said numerous agencies are involved in the investigation and it took a combined effort to put Rester behind bars.
Comments