A recent independent autopsy has revealed that a young Black man from Mississippi who went missing last year was found with his head severed after saying he believed he was being targeted by White men.
Rasheem Carter was reported missing after the 25-year-old was last seen in Laurel, Mississippi in October. Days before his disappearance, Carter told his mother and authorities he had been targeted by White men in his community, his mother Tiffany Carter said at a press conference on Monday.
Some of Rasheem Carter’s remains were discovered in a wooded area just south of Taylorsville.
After Carter’s body as discovered last year, the Smith County Sheriff’s Office posted a statement saying it had no reason to believe foul play was involved.
The department’s statement sparked outrage from the local community, leading to a protest in November.
Smith County Sheriff’s Office told ABC News this week it stands behind its earlier determination that no foul play was involved in Carter’s death. The department said the results of pending search warrants to rule out foul play.
Following the release of the independent autopsy results, Carter’s family says they want a federal investigation into his death.
“This was not a natural death. This represents a young man who was killed,” attorney Ben Crump said at the press conference.
During the press conference, Crump shared the findings of the autopsy report by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office.
The sheriff’s initial statement sparked small peaceful protests throughout the community, with members skeptical of no foul play being involved.
More about the death investigation can be found here.
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