Sunday, August 1, 2004
Oxford Eagle

By KELLY SHACKLEFORD
Staff Writer

University of Mississippi student Weldon Foyle, 27, was arrested late Friday by the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department in conjunction with the investigation into the murder of Kristi Waterson. At press time, no charges had been filed, although unnamed sources indicate that Foyle is likely to be charged with first degree murder.

Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff’s Department would not comment on the specific evidence that led to Foyle’s arrest. However, the department’s Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones announced, “An arrest has been made in the murder investigation of Kristi Waterson. This has been a long, arduous investigation and the people of Oxford have been well-served by the tremendous efforts of the law enforcement officials involved. While nothing can assuage the pain of the Waterson family, we hope that closing this case will bring some closure and resolution to their grieving process.”

Foyle is a business student at the University of Mississippi. Originally from Kentucky, Foyle was known to his professors as an extremely hard working student who paid his own tuition and living costs. Foyle is reported to have held as many as five jobs at a time while maintaining fulltime coursework at Ole Miss. PIO Jones refused to offer any details of a possible motive linking Foyle to Waterson’s murder. “Since this case will be heading to the courts soon, I cannot discuss the particulars of why we have brought this arrest. However, we are extremely confident in our police work and we feel that we are handing the District Attorney a very solid set of facts.”

On May 23, 2004, University of Mississippi business professor Kristi Waterson was found dead at her apartment in Oxford. After Waterson’s death was announced, rumor and innuendo swirled on campus as students and teachers alike discussed alleged improper relationships Waterson maintained with her students. The victim’s parents, Michael and Virginia Waterson of Biloxi, offered a $75,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer. There have been no indications as to whether the potential for reward money played a part in this investigation or not. Sheriff’s Department officials refused to say if the arrest was a result of any participation of an informant.