OLIVE BRANCH, MS (abc24.com) - Will a son be charged with his father's death? DeSoto County investigators are looking into how a 58-year-old Olive Branch man died. They're determining whether charges will be filed.
Investigators say John Pappas was killed early Wednesday morning after a fight with his son escalated and became physical. It happened at Pappas' home off Polk Road.
Neighbors say he lived there for 15 years and kept to himself like most in the subdivision.
"It's very quiet and nice. Everybody stay to themselves and is real clean," said Margaret Garrison, who lives a few houses down the street. "We just speak and say a few words to each other."
Sources tell us Pappas was drinking early Wednesday morning when he got into a fight with his 25-year-old son. The two began struggling when Pappas stopped breathing.
An autopsy found he died of asphyxiation. So far no charges have been filed.
Garrison thinks stories like this serve as a warning of how fragile life is.
"People don't have love like they used to. You never know when you say a word to them and they may reach into their pocket and blow you away so you just don't really know."
We're told the case will be presented to the grand jury. That decision will determine whether the son is charged with anything.
