VOSSBURG, MISSISSIPPI — Victor “Jerry” Carver III, 37, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter after allegedly killing his 17-year-old nephew, Caden Cantrelle, during a road trip.
The incident occurred after Carver was granted temporary custody of Cantrelle by the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS).
However, the visit went tragically wrong when Carver and Cantrelle reportedly got into an argument, and Cantrelle was later found dead on the side of a road in Mississippi.
Tragic Discovery
On Monday, July 7, 2025, Caden Cantrelle’s father, concerned after losing contact with his son, tracked his phone to Mississippi. The phone’s last location was on County Road 39 near Vossburg, nearly 250 miles south of the Tennessee border.
Authorities were alerted, and Jasper County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the location to search the area. Shortly thereafter, they discovered Cantrelle’s body near a gully overgrown with vines.
Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson quickly suspected foul play and contacted the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee to help track down Victor Carver. Carver was found at his home in Tennessee, and authorities took him into custody.
Investigation and Charges
According to the authorities, Carver had requested permission from DCS to care for his nephew, which was granted. However, it was later discovered that Carver did not have permission to take Cantrelle out of Tennessee. Carver allegedly took the teenager to Louisiana to visit family before returning to Tennessee, where they got into an argument.
While Carver did not admit to harming his nephew, he reportedly stated that he left Cantrelle on the side of the road during their dispute. Authorities are investigating further, with Sheriff Johnson suggesting that evidence may lead to an upgrade in charges.
Carver’s criminal history in Wayne County, Tennessee, spans nearly 20 years, and authorities are questioning why he was allowed to assume custody of his nephew, given his past.
Reactions from Cantrelle’s Guardian
Stacie Odeneal, the attorney who represented Cantrelle’s interests in court proceedings, expressed shock and frustration over the decision to grant Carver temporary custody of the teenager.
Odeneal, who has worked as a certified child welfare law specialist for 15 years, told local media outlets, “If it’d been presented to me, if it’d been presented to a judge, and we knew the criminal history… we would have been opposed to giving this level of access to this child.”
She added, “We as a system prevented him from having a chance,” referring to the tragic outcome of the case.
Tennessee DCS Response
The Tennessee Department of Children’s Services expressed their deep sorrow over Cantrelle’s death, stating, “DCS has taken immediate steps to engage with our law enforcement partners as they conduct a criminal investigation.”
The agency also confirmed that the employees involved in the case are currently on leave as the department assesses its policies and how they were applied in this situation.
Next Steps
Victor Carver is expected to be extradited back to Mississippi to face charges, which may include manslaughter or other charges depending on the ongoing investigation. Authorities continue to search for more details surrounding the motive and circumstances that led to Cantrelle’s tragic death.
