Man said he was ‘trying to stir the pot’ before committing pair of home-invasion murders
A Mississippi man has been sentenced to life without parole for carrying out two brutal home-invasion murders within two days.
On Tuesday, Rankin County Circuit Judge Dewey Arthur sentenced Matthew Brian Kidd, 35, to spend the rest of his life in prison for the killings of William Earl Morris and Christian Storey, both 31 years old. Kidd pleaded guilty to one count of capital murder in Morris’ death and one count of murder in Storey’s, according to officials.
The Morris Murder
The case began on August 27, 2024, when Rankin County sheriff’s deputies were called to a home on Highway 80. Inside, they discovered the body of William Earl Morris, who had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
Investigators soon uncovered a disturbing backstory. Earlier in the month, Kidd’s truck had broken down on Morris’ property. When Kidd later returned to retrieve it, he accused Morris of stealing items from the vehicle. Morris denied the accusations and told Kidd to remove his truck within 24 hours.
Rather than comply, Kidd allegedly grew enraged. According to authorities, Kidd threatened Morris repeatedly and even sent text messages to his ex-girlfriend expressing his anger. In one exchange, he said he was “trying to stir the pot.” His ex-girlfriend also told investigators that Kidd had a 9 mm handgun—the same caliber used in the murder.
Morris was later gunned down inside his own home, fulfilling the violent threats Kidd had made.
The Storey Murder
Just one day later, on August 28, 2024, Brandon police responded to reports of another shooting, this time on Gayden Street. The victim was identified as Christian Storey, 31.
Authorities said the circumstances “closely matched” the earlier Highway 80 killing. Investigators quickly connected the two murders, concluding Kidd was the common suspect.
The Arrest
The manhunt ended on August 29, when a tipster recognized Kidd from local news reports and alerted authorities that he had checked into a Brandon hotel. SWAT teams from the Brandon Police Department and Rankin County Sheriff’s Office surrounded the location and executed a search warrant. Kidd was arrested without incident.
A Community in Shock
While investigators confirmed a clear motive in Morris’ killing—Kidd’s anger over the vehicle dispute—the reason for Storey’s murder remains unclear. Police have not revealed whether the two men knew each other.
The double killings rattled the Rankin County community, where both victims were well known. Authorities credited interagency cooperation and quick action from the public for preventing further violence.
Now, with Kidd sentenced to life without parole, families of the victims are left grappling with the loss of two young men whose lives ended violently and without warning.
