A Black man who died in Mississippi after being struck by a police SUV was secretly buried in a pauper’s cemetery without his family’s knowledge, according to the family’s lawyer. The attorney, Ben Crump, revealed that Dexter Wade’s body was exhumed on Monday, and his state identification card was discovered in the pocket of the jeans he was buried in. The card contained his address, credit card, and health insurance card, suggesting an attempt to conceal the circumstances of his death. Crump called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the incident and its aftermath.
Crump stated, “The fact that Dexter had a state identification card and several other identifying items shows us that there was a concerted effort to keep the truth and manner of his death from his family.” He emphasized that there was no excuse for failing to notify next of kin about an identified individual’s death. However, neither the Jackson Police Department nor the Hinds County Coroner’s Office has responded to requests for comment.
The tragic event occurred on March 5 when Wade, 37, was struck by an off-duty Jackson Police Department vehicle. Shockingly, he was buried in a pauper’s cemetery before his family was even informed of his death. Crump confirmed that the address on Wade’s ID card matched his mother’s address, who was unaware of her son’s passing until months later.
Further investigation revealed that Wade’s body had not been embalmed, and he had suffered multiple blunt force injuries, including the amputation of his left leg. Wade’s mother reported him missing a few days after she last saw him on March 5. However, it wasn’t until late August that she discovered her son had been killed by a Jackson Police Department vehicle while crossing Interstate 55.
The Hinds County coroner’s office responded to the accident scene but failed to locate any identification on Wade’s body. However, they did find a bottle of prescription medication with his name on it. Despite contacting a number listed for Wade’s mother, the coroner’s office received no response. City officials claimed that the breakdown in communication was accidental.
On Monday, Wade’s family and lawyers obtained permission to exhume his body, but they were unable to witness the process as it took place earlier than initially scheduled.
The case has raised serious concerns about the handling of Wade’s death and the apparent attempt to hide the truth from his family. The family’s lawyer has called for a thorough investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice to ensure justice is served.
