Pete Banning was Clanton, Mississippiâs favorite sonâa decorated World War II hero, the patriarch of a prominent family, a farmer, father, neighbor, and a faithful member of the Methodist church. Then one cool October morning he rose early, drove into town, walked into the church, and calmly shot and killed his pastor and friend, the Reverend Dexter Bell. As if the murder werenât shocking enough, it was even more baffling that Pete's only statement about itâto the sheriff, to his lawyers, to the judge, to the jury, and to his familyâwas: "I have nothing to say." He was not afraid of death and was willing to take his motive to the grave.