Suspect Indicted in Disabled Man’s Murder

March 31, 2022 – A Memphis man has been indicted in the abduction and murder of a disabled acquaintance last year whose body was found two days later in a field in southwest Memphis, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

A grand jury indicted 24-year-old Jerome Nichols on felony counts of premeditated first-degree murder, first degree murder in the perpetration of a kidnapping, especially aggravated kidnapping with a deadly weapon and especially aggravated robbery resulting in serious bodily injury.

Nichols is being held without bond.

Investigators said the victim, Ramarreo Prince Akins, 41, whose legs had been amputated, was abducted at gunpoint while in his wheelchair outside of a grocery the afternoon of Aug. 12, 2021, in the 4700 block of Horn Lake Road.

Surveillance video showed two men putting him into a green Saturn SUV after one of them punched and slapped him. They drove off, leaving the wheelchair behind. Two days later, a father and his son who were riding four wheelers discovered Akins’ body in a field in the 2000 block of West Shelby Drive.

The medical examiner said the victim was shot more than a half dozen times.

Nichols was developed as a suspect and was arrested a month later. The second suspect has not been identified. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 528-CASH (2274).

The case is being handled by Chief Prosecutor Kirby May of the District Attorney’s Vertical Team 5 which prosecutes cases in General Sessions Division 13 and in Criminal Court Division 5.