Two arrests made in Savannah cold case killing

Jan. 18– A Hardin County woman is in jail tonight, facing prosecution in connection with the murder of her mother.

Cybill Grant, 36, of 360 County Home Road, is charged with accessory after the fact of first degree murder and accessory after the fact of arson in the Nov. 15, 2001 death of Mildred Grant, Sheriff Sammy Davidson said today.

The 59-year-old victim was strangled at her 20 Edna St. home in Savannah and the body then set on fire, according to Savannah Police Chief Donald Derr.

Davidson said the suspect was arraigned Friday on the charges filed by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance Division of Fire Prevention – Bomb and Arson Section.

Gov. Phil Bredesen issued a $25,000 reward for information in the case last November.

In an interview with the Courier at the time, Cybill Grant implored anyone who might know something about the murder to come forward.

"God’s intervention is going to come," she said.

UPDATE: Jan. 19– John Wesley May, a former neighbor of Mildred Grant, has also been arrested and is charged with first degree murder, said Dist. Attorney Gen. Hansel McCadams today.

May is being held at Panama City, Fla., pending extradition to Hardin County, he said.