Jessica Chambers' ex-boyfriend cleared as a suspect, despite social media claims

PANOLA CO, MS (WMC) - One week later and police have no answers on who could have been behind the death of Jessica Chambers. One thing is clear, investigators say Jessica's ex-boyfriend is not a suspect, despite what social media is saying.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but what if the words aren't true?

"Lord knows that right now, I hate that I ever put that picture on Facebook, I do," said Theresa Fleming, who is the mother of Jessica's ex-boyfriend.

"When we found out Jessica had passed, I put something on my Facebook page, it was a picture that I had of Jessica," Fleming exclusively told WMC Action News 5.

She says the photo of her son Bryan Rudd kissing Jessica when they dated a few years ago is causing a firestorm on social media.

"They took it and they put Bryan's picture on the web all over the world, and was basically accusing him of being an abusive ex-boyfriend, and possibly even a killer, they accused him of being a gang member," Fleming said.

Bryan Rudd now lives in Iowa, says he has nothing to do with Jessica's murder, and is heartbroken to hear about what happened to his old girlfriend.

His mom is angry that online rumors are quickly spreading in the small community.

She wants to set the record straight, "I hope that they find who killed Jessica."

Fleming says her family is praying for the arrest of whoever killed Jessica and a community that now seems to be skeptical of anyone.

"I hope that Panola County can stay strong, and not feed into all this hatred and lies that's being spread around town because it's not going to help us, it will only divide us and a house divided cannot stand."

District Attorney John Champion says the reward for information about her death currently remains at $11,000. Private groups have committed to raising that to $29,000, but are waiting on paperwork before it's official.

If you know anything about Jessica Chambers' death, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-729-2169.

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