On January 12, 2023, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor sentenced Christopher Bridges Gholar, 29, of Biloxi, Mississippi, to the maximum sentence of twenty (20) years to serve in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections for...
On January 12, 2023, Jackson County Circuit Court Judge Calvin Taylor sentenced Christopher Bridges Gholar, 29, of Biloxi, Mississippi, to the maximum sentence of twenty (20) years to serve in the custody of Mississippi Department of Corrections for causing the death of Donald Beryl Ratcliff. Gholar assaulted Ratcliff on April 26, 2021, while both men were housed at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center. Several days later, Ratcliff died from the blunt force head trauma caused by Gholar. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) investigated the case
At the time of his Manslaughter plea, Gholar was already serving a thirteen (13) year sentence for an aggravated assault committed in Harrison County. Judge Taylor required that Gholar serve the twenty (20) year manslaughter sentence consecutively to the Harrison County conviction.
District Attorney Angel Myers McIlrath stated: “This was a senseless act of violence, and our office remains committed to seeking justice for all crime victims, regardless of their status. I hope that Judge Taylor’s imposition of the maximum sentence provides some sense of justice to Mr. Ratcliff’s family.”
Assistant District Attorney Bill Barrett stated: “We want to thank the MBI investigative team for their thorough investigation in this case. Our hearts go out to the Ratcliff family.”