A grand jury in Mississippi has reportedly decided not to indict the White woman who’s accusation sparked the brutal murder of Emmett Till nearly 70 years ago.
The decision was made after an unserved arrest warrant was discovered in June and an unpublished memoir by the woman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, was obtained by the Associated Press.
A grand jury in Leflore County last week reportedly determined there wasn’t enough evidence to indict Donham on charges of kidnapping and manslaughter, making it unlikely she will ever be prosecuted for her role leading up to Till’s death.
The men involved in the beating and lynching of Till, who was 14 years old, were arrested and later acquitted of murder charges. Donham was never taken into custody.
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The unpublished memoir was reportedly obtained by The Associated Press last month. In it, Donham said she didn’t know what would happen to Till. Donham reportedly said in the manuscript that the men abducted Till at gunpoint and brought him to Donham at night for her to identify him. Donham said she tried to help Till by denying it was him. She claimed Till identified himself, reported the AP.
The accusation that Till ever made a pass at Donham has been disputed.
More about the case can be found here.
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