Honduran Man Indicted in Southaven Machete Killing

HERNANDO, Miss. — A DeSoto County grand jury has indicted 21-year-old Maberic Javier Reyes in connection with a deadly machete attack that occurred earlier this year in Southaven.

Reyes, described by authorities as an undocumented immigrant from Honduras, is charged in the January 13, 2026, killing of his roommate, who authorities said was an undocumented immigrant from Mexico.

Investigators said the two men were inside a Southaven residence when an argument escalated into violence. Reyes is accused of attacking the victim with a machete, resulting in the victim’s death.

The case was investigated by the Southaven Police Department and later presented to a DeSoto County grand jury. The indictment was returned less than five months after the homicide.

“This indictment is a testament to the outstanding work of the Southaven Police Department and our team, who moved with urgency to ensure this dangerous criminal was brought to justice,” District Attorney Matthew Barton said.

Barton said securing a murder indictment in less than five months was an “extraordinary accomplishment.”

The case remains pending in DeSoto County Circuit Court.

An indictment is not a conviction. Reyes is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.