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After receiving backlash from civil rights leaders, a Mississippi sheriff is slightly changing his tune regarding the mysterious death of Rasheem Carter.
MORE: GoFundMe Created For Rasheem Carter, Black Man Who Mysteriously Disappeared In Mississippi
According to NBC News, Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston says he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of foul play in the death of Carter after initially claiming there was “no reason” to suspect foul play in his death.
Rasheem Ryelle Carter, mysteriously when missing in early October. Carter’s remains were found less than a month later on private property in a wooded area in Taylorsville. His mother claims he was being chased by white men threatening to harm him and using racial slurs.
Although Sheriff Houston backed on his initial claims of no foul play, he continued to defend his previous stance in an interview with NBC News.
“Nothing is being swept under the rug,” Houston told the publication. “There’s nothing to hide.”
Rasheem Carter’s unusual disappearance and death have left his family searching for answers.
Nationally renowned civil rights and personal injury attorney Ben Crump joined the family to aid them in seeking justice for Rasheem Carter
“We NEED a federal investigation into the killing of Rasheem Carter, he said in a tweet. “An independent autopsy revealed his death was NOT due to natural causes! Rasheem was ignored after seeking help from police, and no progress has been made to find his killers — his family deserves justice!”
Rasheem Ryelle Carter, 25, was last seen outside of a Super 8 Hotel Oct. 2 in Laurel, about 30 minutes outside of Taylorsville, where Carter had been contracted to work.
Carter’s family believes their son was threatened and stalked by white men in the area and demanded a full investigation into their son’s disappearance and death.
According to the family, the day before Carter’s disappearance he went to the police department in Taylorsville and informed officers that men were after him and that he feared for his life.
Carter didn’t have a car at the time and asked the police for a ride to the Super 8 hotel in Laurel, but officers refused, telling Carter it was outside their jurisdiction. He returned to the police station again on foot early the next morning pleading with the police to help him, but once again they refused.
He allegedly informed his mother that there were white men after him and that if something were to happen to him to start the investigation there. “He did speak with his mom Tiffany about a white truck and white males in there threatened to harm him,” his cousin, Shonda Wright told WLBT. “He did give her the names.”
More than three months later, Rasheem Carter’s family still hasn’t gotten any closure on what happened to their son. A GoFundMe was started by the family to raise funds to help defray the cost of seeking justice for Rasheem and to help alleviate the financial stresses that have accrued throughout this process.
How long does this family have to suffer before they can get the answers they deserve? When a Black man dies, does his family not deserve justice?
SEE ALSO:
The Mysterious Disappearance Of Rasheem Carter: Mississippi Man’s Family Wants Answers
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