JACKSON — A convicted murder, who has had his own Facebook page, will not be “friending” anyone any more.
Jonathan Davis, who has been at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman since 2004, had at least 20 friends on the social network.
According to Saturday’s Clarion Ledger, after receiving a complaint from a Florida mother whose daughter had befriended Davis, prison officials had the page removed.
Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Chris Epps said Parchman officials on Oct. 14 contacted Facebook’s corporate office in California and Davis’ Facebook account was deactivated.
A smartphone with Internet capability can be used to update a Facebook page on the social media site that connects people.
There have been national reports of inmates using Facebook to contact victims, make sexual advances, even plan crimes.
Despite best efforts to keep out cellphones, they are still being smuggled into prisons, including Parchman, Epps said.
Davis, 27, convicted in Lauderdale County of capital murder, is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He has been in MDOC custody since March 29, 2004, MDOC spokeswoman Suzanne Singletary said. His crime was committed on Aug. 20, 2002. Details about the crime could not be immediately obtained.
The Florida resident who complained said her daughter went to junior high with Davis and knew him from their old neighborhood. She did not want to be identified.
The woman said the picture Davis posted on his Facebook page appeared to be taken behind prison walls because of the concrete block wall.
Epps said prison officials ask inmates when they come into the system whether they have any social media accounts.
MDOC has new technology at Parchman to block cell- phone calls, Epps said. Also, they have metal detectors and will do strip searches, among other things, to try to eliminate cellphone use.
Facebook has said it will work with law enforcement to remove inmates.
Facebook spokesman Andrew Noyes couldn’t be reached Friday for comment.
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