Lamar County School teacher Kimberly Walker Yawn, the mother of David Andrew Cook, a 23 year old white man accused of killing Donivan Barnes, a 26 year old African American man, has also admitted to her part in the tragic death of Donivan.
Donvian was found in a ditch on Westover Drive in Hattiesburg, MS by his siblings and family during The University of Southern Mississippi's Homecoming Weekend according to the Lamar County Sheriff's Office.
As Hattiesburg News continues to investigate this case, we can confirm that Yawn has been interviewed by the Lamar County Sheriff's Office as well as submitted a statement as a part of the investigation. At this time, we don't know what she has admitted to neither do we know the full extent of how Yawn is involved. We can confirm from law enforcement that she was at the crime scene the night Donivan was killed.
Here's what we do know according law enforcement and people involved with the investigation:
Friday Night, October 6, 2023
On Friday, October 6, David Andrew Cook, the 23 year old white male suspect charged with 'leaving the scene of an accident' said that he was driving on Westover Road at the same time Donivan was walking on Westover and know that he "hit something." He claimed he did not know what he hit and immediately called his mom, not the police. We're told his 2023 Black Toyota 4runner had major damage.
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No evidence found at crime scene where Donivan Barnes was killed.
Sometime Friday night, Andrew David Cook and his mom Kimberly Yawn went back to the crime scene to find what Cook hit. According to law enforcement, Yawn claimed she "looked" and didn't see anything. Neither Yawn nor Cook called the police to report the incident. Instead, they left the crime scene and went home.
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Almost 2 weeks later with "no leads or evidence," as stated by Lamar County Sheriff's Office, after Donivan had been discovered by his family, the sheriff's office finally released a statement asking for the public's help on Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Wednesday Morning, Kimberly brought her son to the sheriff's station and told law enforcement her son called her when he allegedly killed Donivan, but when they returned to the scene, they couldn't find anything. Cook confessed to law enforcement during his interview to hitting what he described as "something" during the same time and in the same place Donivan was killed. However, he was allowed to go home that evening with no charges or arrest.
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Thursday Evening, October 19, two days before Donivan's funeral, Cook was charged with only one count of leaving the scene of an accident, bond set at $10,000, arrived at the county jail for processing, and was released immediately after the jail's booking process was complete. Hattiesburg News has confirmed that Cook left the crime scene at least 2 separate times, however, he only is charged with one count of leaving the scene of an accident.
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Lamar County Judge Bill Anderson set $10,000 surety bond in secret hearing for Donivan Barnes accused killer Andrew David Cook:
As Hattiesburg News continues to investigate this story, we have confirmed that the suspect in Donivan's death, Andrew David Cook, never spent one night in jail neither has he ever appeared before a judge for killing Donivan Barnes. Despite never appearing before a judge, Judge Bill Anderson set Cook a $10,000 surety bond.
In a previous story, Hattiesburg News confirmed by Lamar County Justice Court that Andrew David Cook's name didn't appear on any court dockets appearing before Judge Bill Anderson.
Hattiesburg News has also confirmed that the Lamar County jail doesn't have any record of Cook spending one night in jail neither are their any monetary transactions or receipts of him paying to bond out of jail, typically at least 10% of what the bond is set for. Cook was released shortly after taking his mugshot.
Despite Cook's mom confessing to being at the crime scene and admitting to her part during Donvian's death investigation, Lamar County Sheriff's Office said they will not charge Kimberly Walker Yawn, but instead will leave it up to the grand jury to decide whether or not to charge her and what those charges should be after the case is presented to the grand jury.
Possible Charges: Murder
According to legal experts, there are a host of possible charges Kimberly Walker Yawn could be facing depending on her role in Donvian's death before, during, or after the crime. Based only on the limited information that has been provided by law enforcement, Yawn charges may include murder or attempted murder, seeing as since one crime was being committed during the act of another crime.
Possible Charges: Accessory After the Fact
Yawn can be charged with accessory after the fact or also leaving the scene of an accident causing death, considering the fact she had knowledge of the crime as she stated to law enforcement during her interview as well as confessed to being at the crime scene with her son after the crime was committed and did not report that crime to law enforcement.
Possible Charges: Tampering with Evidence
Yawn could also be charged with tampering with evidence considering the fact she was involved at the crime scene looking for evidence, although she claimed she didn't see anything. The sheriff's office did state there was no evidence at the crime scene to recover after Yawn and family left the crime scene, although no law enforcement official has said The Yawn Family tampered with any evidence.
However, a judge on Oct 25, 2023 issued an arrest warrant for a Lamar County deputy sheriff for tampering with evidence in a separate case.
Possible Charges: Conspiracy
Finally, Yawn could be charged with aide and abetting, obstruction of justice, hindering the prosecution, or conspiracy as she knew for weeks her son had committed a crime and potentially helped to conceal the crime or at the very least did not report it to law enforcement.
Donivan's family is looking for support to help with Donivan's legal expenses in a fight for justice by attaining proper legal representation and experts help. If you are interested in supporting you can give through the Community Crisis Coalition MS Strong by clicking here.
The Community Crisis Coalition is known for supporting the community throughout Mississippi in times of crisis or dire needs throughout the last decade including donating water to Jackson, MS during its multiple water crisis.
We reached out to Lamar County School District several times about this story. Each time, the district's superintendent was unavailable.
Hattiesburg News will continue to investigate this story and provide as much news as possible to the general public as quickly as we can. If you have any information about what happened to Donivan Barnes, please report it to law enforcement as soon as possible or dial 9-1-1.
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