Attorney Asks for Investigation into Sheffield Man's Death

 

From attorney Roderick Van Daniel:

The family of Dennoriss Richardson, the 39-year-old Black man found hanging from a porch in an abandon house in Colbert County, Alabama wants answers to why this young Black man from Sheffield, Alabama with no history of mental illness was found dead hanging from a porch in an incident that bears a disturbing similarity to the 1955 death of 14-year-old Emitt Till. Colbert County has a history of lynching going back to May 8, 1885, of Jordan to George Whiteside on November 12, 1918.

Notably, Mr. Richardson filed a federal lawsuit in February of 2024 for excessive force against the City of Sheffield, Alabama, former Lieutenant Max Dotson, and other officers due to constitutional violations for excessive force, assault and battery, and Title Il of the Americans with Disability Act.

Authorities discovered Richardson's hanging from a porch on Saturday, September 28, 2024, and within a week, had ruled it a suicide with a rope but the investigators for Colbert County, Alabama has promised to continue to investigate. His wife of 22 years, Leigh Ann Richardson said that "He would have never done this. We have five (5) children together. Dennoriss "NaNa" loved his children. The FBI needs to help in this investigation. This cannot be right. He did not commit suicide."

"Dennoriss was my client fighting for his rights and his community not to be subjected to harassment and excessive force by the police in Sheffield, Alabama. He became an advocate for change and coached little league sports in the community. This is how I will always remember him'. I will continue to stand up for his rights not only for him but his family," said Attorney Dr. Roderick Van Daniel.

The family has also received strong support from civil rights leaders in the community.

*We must have truth transparency in this matter. Hanging is not a form of death that can be easily dismissed, particularly here in the South where it has been used as a weapon of terror against Black families for generations. This family needs the help of the federal government to investigate, not to let Dennoriss Richardson's story get swept under the rug.” said Van Daniel. “This is 2024, not 1885."

According to the FBI, there is no official comment at this time.

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