The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrested Dr. Cooper and John Henry May on Dec. 21. The two men are charged with hindering the prosecution, accessory after the fact of murder, and conspiracy to commit a felony, according to the report.
The charges are related to the death of Roger Lee Scruggs Jr., whose body was found Dec. 2 near where an all-terrain vehicle appeared to have crashed in Vaughan, Miss. Authorities originally thought Mr. Scruggs died in the crash. However, they later said it appeared he had been killed at another location, and the scene where his body was discovered was staged, according to the report. The MBI has not provided details on the cause of Mr. Scruggs’ death.
Dr. Cooper, who is board certified in family medicine, was arrested as he reported to work at Greenwood (Miss.) Leflore Hospital. “Everyone I have spoken to has been shocked by this,” Greenwood Leflore Hospital Executive Director Jim Jackson Jr. told the Clarion Ledger regarding Dr. Cooper’s arrest. “We have never had any reason to question Dr. Cooper’s ability as a physician, and we will wait to make any further determinations until we find out additional information from law enforcement agencies.”
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