Jackson Jambalaya

The mastermind of the murder of Circuit Judge Vincent Sherry and his wife will remain behind bars for the rest of his life after U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett denied Kirksey Nix's motion for compassionate release in February.  

Attorney Pete Halat operated Nix's trust account. $100,000 went missing in the account. Halat thought his law partner, Interim Circuit Judge Vincent Sherry, was responsible for the missing funds. Coincidentally, Sherry's wife, Margaret, was running for Mayor. The Sherrys were murdered execution-style in their home in 1987. A .22 caliber pistol was used and there was evidence a pillow was used as a silencer. The killings rocked Mississippi. Earlier post with original news stories.

A jury convicted Nix of conspiring to kill the Sherrys in 1991 and sentenced him to life in prison for ordering their execution.  Nix currently resides at the Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri.  

TEXT ONLY ORDER as to [909] MOTION for Compassionate Release (COVID-19) filed by Kirksey McCord Nix. Along with the Motion, sensitive medical records were filed. It is hereby ordered that the attachment to the instant motion be restricted from public view. No further written order shall issue. Signed by District Judge Keith Starrett on 12/6/2023.

The killer also submitted a "woe is me" letter to the Court that described his various health problems as well alleged remorse over how he had wasted his life.   Earlier post with Nix letter. 

The Sherry's daughter, Lynne Sherry Sposito, opposed his release in a letter addressed to the Court.  Earlier post with copy of letter.   One particular passage paints a horrific picture of what took place that night on the Gulf Coast: 

I have often wondered if my folks strong religious background saw them through that horrible night as they faced the evil, the power of Hell, their executioner, ordered by Kirksey Nix. Did they have a normal reaction of sheer terror? Did my father hope, as he lay dying in the family room, that somehow my mother might have heard the shots and gone out the bedroom window? Did he know when he heard the shots that my mother was dead? You see, my father sprayed arterial blood across the ceiling and down the walls in the family room in several directions. He did not die right away - as folks do not spray arterial blood 10-12 feet when they are dead as their heart stops pumping. He knew he was going to die, and he had to lie there unable to get help and listen to his wife of 37 years, his college sweetheart, be slaughtered. Was there any compassion for my parents. 

While I do feel it is a shame he was not executed for the Corso murder, which could have saved a lot of lives, I also feel strongly that this man should be released from prison when my parents can walk out of their graves. 

Claiming poor health, Nix filed a motion for compassionate release in December 2023.  Nix argued since he was 80 years old and in poor health, he posed no danger to the community.  However,  U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett bought none of what Nix was selling.  Judge Starrett blistered Nix as he denied his request: 

As plainly admitted by Petitioner, almost his entire life has been one of crime. In his letter to the Court, Petitioner describes how his early cons and scams began when he was just 21 years old in 1964. See [928] at p. 2 (admitting that he “went through life gambling, cheating, stealing and conning and harming too many victims to count”).11 Given the convictions for his most recent crimes, Petitioner may well be one of the most notorious criminals in Mississippi’s modern history. In assessing his criminal history, the Court is mindful of the boldness, the nature, and the goal of many of Petitioner’s past crimes.

In this case alone, not only the lonely-hearts scam that conned numerous individuals out of hundreds of thousands of dollars but also, and egregiously worse, racketeering crimes involving the conspiracy and murders of prominent individuals were crimes Petitioner was able to commit while incarcerated at a state penitentiary. These were not crimes that required physical strength, such that an 80-year-old man in failing physical health would not be able to commit in the future. They simply required a cunning, criminal mind and a telephone.12 Having led a life of crime for so many years, even his 1992 conviction could not stop Petitioner’s thirst for crime. Petitioner “continued his schemes from jail after the 1991 trial.

And lest we forget, Petitioner’s overarching purpose of his many racketeering offenses was “to earn enough money to buy his way out of prison.” His crimes did not stop until he went into federal custody under the sentence imposed by this Court, and it will not be this Court who gives him a “get-out-of-jail-free card” no matter how “rehabilitated” Petitioner claims to be. He has been, and the Court finds that he continues to be a danger to the safety of others and the community. (Pps. 10-13 of the opinion posted below are worth reading.)

Undeterred, Nix filed a handwritten notice of appeal on March 6.  He claimed he was a member of the Creek Nation.   Nix is representing himself.  

 Posted below: Nix notice of appeal, Starrett opinion, Nix request/letter, and Sposito letter