Mother, son murder suspects back in Columbia County

The mother and son charged in the murder of Jerry Gifford were transported back to Columbia County from Tennessee over the weekend.

Mary Boswell

Mary Boswell, 47 and her 29-year-old son Larry Craig Whitworth were booked into the Columbia County Jail Sunday and had first appearance Monday morning. Both are charged with felony murder and are being held in the Columbia County Jail without bond.

Mr. Gifford, 59, was found in a pond in the back of his property at 17364 North US Highway 441 on May 21. He was last seen alive by a friend on May 13. Boswell and Whitworth had been living on Gifford’s property with him for about a month when Gifford disappeared.

The two were spotted in Tennessee on May 22 

Larry Craig Whitworth

driving Gifford’s stolen truck. After a short pursuit, Boswell was arrested but Whitworth remained at large. He turned himself in to Tennessee law enforcement over the Memorial Day weekend after his father contacted a friend who works with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.

Whitworth and Boswell were arrested and were held in the Cumberland County (Tennessee) Jail until they were transported back to Columbia County.