Kidnap-slaying suspect kills himself; 2 girls OK

In this photo made from surveillance video and released by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Adam Mayes, 35, stands in front of the counter at a convenience store on April 30, 2012 in Union County, Miss., about three days after Jo Ann Bain and her daughters disappeared. / CBS/AP

Updated 11:30 PM ET

(AP) GUNTOWN, Miss. - As a SWAT team closed in, a fugitive accused of killing a Tennessee mother and daughter before disappearing for nearly two weeks with her two other children killed himself Thursday evening, allowing authorities to safely recover the kidnapped girls, police said.

Adam Mayes, 35, shot himself in the head Thursday evening after authorities, acting on a tip, found him and the girls near New Albany, Miss., said Guntown Police Chief Michael Hall.

Mayes later was pronounced dead at a hospital, said Daniel McMullen, FBI special agent in charge of Mississippi, at a Thursday evening news conference.

Alexandra Bain, 12, and Kyliyah Bain, 8, were taken to a hospital for observation, Hall said. They appeared to be unharmed, McMullen said.

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A special operations team from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and officers from the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks rescued the girls, McMullen said.

Mayes had been charged with first-degree murder in the April 27 deaths of Jo Ann Bain, 31, and her daughter, Adrienne, 14. Their bodies were found buried outside the Mayes' home a week after they were reported missing by Jo Ann Bain's husband.

Mayes' wife, Teresa, also is charged with first-degree murder in the deaths. She told investigators he killed Jo Ann and Adrienne Bain at their Whiteville, Tenn., home so he could abduct the two young sisters, according to court documents.

"Thank God it's over and the babies are safe," said Teresa Mayes' sister, Bobbi Booth. "That's all that mattered. I'm just glad it turned out the way it did."

Teresa Mayes told investigators that after she saw her husband kill the two in the garage at the Bain home, she drove him, the younger girls and the bodies to Mississippi, according to affidavits filed in court. She faces six felony counts in the case: two first-degree murder charges and four especially aggravated kidnapping charges.

Authorities refused to comment on the motive for the April 27 slayings and abductions.

Mayes' mother-in-law, Josie Tate, told The Associated Press that Mayes thought the missing sisters might actually be his daughters and it caused problems in his marriage to her daughter, Teresa, who is jailed in the case.

"She was tired of him doting on those two little girls that he claimed were his," Tate said.

Adam Mayes' mother, Mary Mayes, also has been charged with conspiracy to commit especially aggravated kidnapping.

Mary Mayes' attorney, Somerville attorney Terry Dycus, said his client maintains she is not guilty.

The hunt for Adam Mayes and the two young sisters encompassed parts of at least three counties in northern Mississippi. State and local law enforcement agents on Thursday searched a densely wooded area about 10 miles from Mayes' home near Guntown.

Dee Hart, who organized a Tuesday night vigil for the girls in Bolivar, Tenn., said their prayers were answered.

"No words can express our elation," she said by phone. "We know prayers brought those babies home. I can't wait to see them."

[Suzanna6791]

So very thankful that Alexandria and Kyliyah are alive. I hope & pray that he did not molest them. Also hoping that Gary Bain is the kind of man who can truly be there for them in the aftermath of such trauma and unthinkable horror that they have endured and witnessed! If not, I hope that they will have the support they so desperately need somehow!
Adam Mayes is now having to go through his Life Review and must experience the pain he has inflicted on everyone he has so brutally hurt and murdered and used for his own selfish and sick benefit.

[ReckonedTruth]

..atleast this EVIL SCUMBAG..didn't murder the remaining two young females..in which cowards like him often do- when things don't go as their coward evil heart- hopes for.. so these EVIL scumbags murder those who close to them.. family..co-workers, associates.. all the innocent PPL..who have NOTHING to do with these EVIL scumbag PPL at all..

Happy to hear the girls are SAFE!

[nojoy01]

Best possible end to a really ugly situation.

[wlhoppers]

Well said.

[pleasechoseanother]

He save a lengthy trial and a few million in taxpayer dollars.Why not let the wife excape and see if she might commit sucide also.

[unionjack84]

i'm glad he killed himself, as it will save taxpayers from having to feed, house, and clothe him. not to mention defending this piece of trash.

[wlhoppers]

Totally agree with you.

[rwsmith29456]

How did this guy think this was going to turn out?? At least the girls are ok.

[momwifenana]

The act was committed by a man who most likely was mentally disturbed. This was not an act of God it was demonic all the way. Not everything in this world is fair or just. You have to walk in faith. If it is your time, it is your time. I am glad the wife and mother were arrested. It is about time justice is served all the way around. One more reason guns should be outlawed. But of course in the south that is how they live, they shoot a possum for dinner and their neighbor over a beer.

[inmom63]

Mayes shot the mother and daughter because he was nuts. If he hadn't had a gun, he'd of found another way. Guns aren't the bad guys here.

[aacon]

You should really visit the South more often rather than judge it by a book or television.Yankeeeeeeeeeee ! Muwhahahahahaha

[kimizim]

"by RogerInHawaii May 10, 2012 9:58 PM EDT
What did Jesus have to do with this? And if Jesus actually did something to save these two girls, where was he when the mother and the other girl were killed?"

Could Not AGREE more Roger!!! Where was he THEN???

[Choons]

I'm generally annoyed by Bible-thumpers as well, but that comment is just as bad as what they do.

[betty42254]

A filthy coward who took the cowards way out. But now no tax money to try him and the girls won't spend their lives scared he will get out...Miracles do happen and these girls are proof of that.

[smittyc]

Glad the children were found alive, but still a sad day for them having lost their mom and their sister. What a mess this man has made. Makes you wonder why can't people just act normally?