Roxboro police arrested two persons Friday evening in connection with a Jury selection for the trial of a man charged with first degree murder in connection with the Jan. 30, 2005 death of an Alton, Va. woman at a Roxboro motel is nearly complete.

When Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway recessed proceedings just shy of 5 p.m. Tuesday, he informed 11 jurors they would “be charged” with their instructions once jury selection ends. That should take place sometime today. Jury selection was slated to resume at 9:30 a.m.

One more juror, along with two alternate jurors, remained to be seated for the trial as of Tuesday. Of the 11 who were seated Tuesday, six are men and five are women.

Jessie James Harris, 45, of South Boston, Va. was taken into custody by Virginia law enforcement authorities in February, 2005. He was extradited to Person County on April 4, 2005. Since then, he has been held in the Person County jail without privilege of bond. He is charged with murdering Barbara Jean Cunningham, 53.

Days Inn motel employees found Cunningham lying dead in a pool of blood in a room at the motel on North Madison Boulevard.

A source, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Courier-Times in February, 2005 that a young boy was in the room watching television when Cunningham’s body was discovered. The source said the boy appeared to be around two years old because of his size, but was said to be extremely articulate.

While questioning potential jurors Tuesday afternoon, District Attorney Joel Brewer referred to Cunningham’s death as a “bludgeoning death…in the presence of her two-year-old grandchild.”

According to court records, investigators found blood on Cunningham’s face, on a bed in the motel room, pillows and walls.

Harris was reportedly identified by a motel employee in a photo lineup as a person who rented the room on Jan. 29, 2005. And, court records indicate he has admitted to being in the room on that date.

After obtaining a search warrant to search the room, officers reportedly collected clothes that fit the description of clothes Harris was wearing on Jan. 29, 2005. Court records also indicated that the SBI “detected what appears to be the presence of blood” on the seized clothes.

Police confirmed shortly after the incident that Cunningham had suffered a wound to the head.