A Laurel woman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder following the death of an elderly woman who police say was assaulted.
According to WDAM, 38-year-old Rose Upthagrove was taken into custody on Monday after an investigation by the Laurel Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Police were alerted to the case after meeting with Deputy Coroner Don Sumrall and concerned family members regarding what was described as a “suspicious death.” The elderly victim was taken to South Central Regional Medical Center on May 29 and later died on May 31.
Hospital staff notified the Jones County Coroner’s Office, which then passed information from its preliminary investigation to Laurel Police. The investigation revealed that the victim had been assaulted by Upthagrove, a family acquaintance, leading to the hospitalization.
Upthagrove is currently facing a charge of second-degree murder and is scheduled to make her initial court appearance in Laurel Municipal Court on Wednesday.
