By John Howell Sr.
A tall man who disguised himself with a ski mask, wig and other coverings, and pointed a handgun at the head of the lady at convenience store on September 17, remains at large, Batesville police said.

The man who robbed Batesville Express No. 2 at Highway 6 and Eureka Street is probably hanging around Batesville, said Annette Demaidi, who, with her husband, owns the store at the intersection as well as Batesville Express No. 1, nearby on Highway 6.

Demaidi has heard street talk that someone has “been bragging that he robbed the Amoco station,” she said.

The location was formerly Speedy Serve, an Amoco outlet.

Demaidi was alone in the store that Wednesday night preparing to close about 9 p.m. when the robber walked in.

The robber was tall — six feet plus, she remembers. He had “long legs and really big feet.”

And there was something else. As the robber held the handgun in his right hand, he held his left hand over his mouth.

“Something was unusual about his mouth,” Demaidi said.

The robber fled on foot toward Highway 6, according to the police report.

Police soon found the wig, blue sweatshirt and dark pants where he had shed them nearby.

“We’re offering a cash reward for information that leads to the arrest,” Detective George Williford told The Panolian last week.

Names will be kept confidential, he said. Contact the police department at 563-5653.