FLORENCE — The charges against a local man accused of killing the mother of his child last July, have been dismissed by the grand jury, officials said.

Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said this morning that last week’s session of the grand jury did not return an indictment in the murder case against Raymond Demetrius Gibson Jr.

Gibson, 21, Sweetwater Avenue, Florence, was charged in connection with the July 13 stabbing death of his ex-girlfriend, Savanna Brooke Parrish, 20, of Florence.

Authorities said Parrish was stabbed during a fight with Gibson at Brush Creek Campgrounds near the Wright community, on Waterloo Road, just east of Waterloo.

Gibson had maintained he was acting in self-defense.

“I know the grand jury struggled with the decision,” Connolly said. “It was fully and fairly presented to the grand jury and we respect their decision.

“Unless something new develops, (the case) is closed.”