Published: 15:27, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 15:29, 6 August 2026 A Mississippi detective has been busted for allegedly trying to wipe evidence of his own wife's alleged illegal romps with a murderous inmate – and it isn't the first time he's been humiliated by a spouse and con, the Daily Mail can reveal. Prison detective Michael Crawford, 46, and his wife, Jennifer Crawford, 49, were both arrested last month over an alleged sordid saga that unfolded last year at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville where the couple both worked. Jennifer, who was a case worker at the facility at the time, is accused of engaging in 'sexual penetration' with a 53-year-old convicted murderer named Harold Hayes last summer, according to an indictment obtained by the Daily Mail. Her hubby, who was until recently the chief investigator for the prison's Corrections Investigation Division, then allegedly exploited his position by trying to convince the inmate to 'smash and flush' a phone that is said to have contained evidence of the affair. The inmate, however, hadn't followed through by destroying the device when investigators started probing the allegations, the indictment states. Hayes was relocated to the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility on January 1 – around the same time as Crawford's alleged misconduct – and does not have a scheduled parole date, records show. Crawford and his wife, who were both taken into custody on July 16 and later released on bond, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Crawford is facing a class two felony charge of attempted tampering with physical evidence, while his wife faces a felony charge of unlawful sexual activity with an inmate. Michael Crawford, 46, and his wife, Jennifer Crawford, 49, were arrested last month over an alleged saga that unfolded at the South Mississippi Correctional Institution where they worked The couple, who have been married since 2004, who were both taken into custody on July 16 and later released on bond. They have both pleaded not guilty Jennifer, who was a case worker at the prison, is accused of engaging in 'sexual penetration' with convicted murderer Harold Hayes last summer, according to an indictment obtained by the Daily Mail They are both due in court later this month. Now, in an astonishing twist, the Daily Mail can reveal that this is the second time Crawford – a one-time sheriff hopeful – has been plagued by such an alleged dalliance. In August 2004, Crawford's first wife, Alaina, pleaded guilty to having illegal sexual intercourse with an inmate at the same prison when she, too, was employed by the Department of Corrections. Her illegal tryst with that perp, Eric Dewayne Lowe, unfolded in June 2003, court papers obtained by the Daily Mail reveal. There is no indication that Crawford was involved in her crime. At the time of her plea, Alaina, then 24, had a two-and-a-half-month-old baby and two other children, aged four and two, court records show. Crawford and Alaina, who wed on December 5, 1998, shared two children and were still living together until just one month before her unlawful affair with Lowe occurred, according to divorce papers seen by the Mail. Alaina, who ended up being sentenced to three years in prison suspended for three years of supervised probation, reverted to her maiden name after she and Crawford jointly petitioned for divorce in early 2024, citing irreconcilable differences. Crawford appeared to waste no time in moving on – quickly marrying Jennifer that same year and moving into a two-bedroom home in the town of Neely, her Facebook profile shows. Crawford had previously been a respected detective in the Petal Police Department for 14 years before taking up his job as chief investigator for the Mississippi prison's Corrections Investigation Division In August 2004, Crawford's first wife, Alaina, pleaded guilty to having illegal sexual intercourse with an inmate at the same prison when she, too, was employed by the Department of Corrections The allegations involving both his first and second wives are in stark contrast to the virtuous campaign pledges Crawford made when he ran to become sheriff of Greene County in 2023. In a formal campaign announcement published in the local paper, Crawford promised to preserve its 'small town morals and ethics' and 'uphold the laws of this state and our county with fairness to all.' Pushing his family values as a married father-of-four, as well as 20 years of law enforcement experience, the police detective appeared the ideal man for the job in the rural enclave, which counts Leakesville as its county seat. Ultimately, Crawford, who had previously been a respected detective in the Petal Police Department for 14 years, lost the election by a landslide. Now, his campaign pledges have seemingly come back to haunt him in the wake of his arrest. Since his indictment, Crawford, who regularly posts on social media about his family's strong religious beliefs and attendance at their local church, has fired off a slew of cryptic comments hinting at his alleged troubles and hitting out at 'lies' and the 'court of public opinion.' 'I think I am going to change my name and move to someplace nobody knows me. Being Mike Crawford is more stressful than I want it to be!' he wrote on June 30. In the wake of his indictment, Crawford fired off a slew of cryptic comments hinting at his alleged troubles and hitting out at 'lies' and the 'court of public opinion' Crawford regularly posts on social media about his family's strong religious beliefs and attendance at their local church Almost a month later, he wrote: 'Smile in the face of an enemy, let the world tell all the lies they can stand to taste coming from their mouths, and keep your peace. The Lord sees all and hears all.' The following day, he hit out at the 'court of public opinion,' calling it a 'failed system' before appearing to liken himself to Jesus. It is unclear if the couple are still living together amid their legal troubles. The Daily Mail couldn't find any record of pending divorce proceedings in the wake of their arrests. Meanwhile, the Daily Mail contacted the Crawfords' attorney, Mary Lee Holmes, for comment as well as multiple telephone numbers for the couple. Their son declined to comment when asked about the charges. Attempts to reach Alaina Strickland were unsuccessful and a spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Corrections said it does not comment on pending criminal matters.
المصدر: Daily Mail
| Source: Daily Mail
