2 autopsies for Black man found hanging in Alabama produce differing conclusions

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A state autopsy has found that a black man found hanging in an abandoned Alabama home in late September died by suicide — a conclusion that contradicts a private autopsy ordered by his family, which found no definitive evidence that he died by suicide.

Dennoriss Richardson’s body was discovered in September in rural Colbert County, far from his home in Sheffield, Alabama, a small town of nearly 10,000 located along the Tennessee River.

A state autopsy released to police in late December ruled the 39-year-old’s death a suicide, Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said. AL.com.

Despite the state’s official findings, the case has sparked intense suspicion and outrage in a community with a long history of racial injustice and a deep-seated distrust of local law enforcement.

Balentine called for an FBI investigation into Richardson’s death in October. Richardson was one of several black men who recently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against local law enforcement agencies over a pattern of abuse.

Balentine said the latest report confirmed what the preliminary autopsy showed.

“They’re getting those preliminary results back pretty quickly, we had them within the week” of Richardson’s death, Balentine told AL.com. “It took three months to get the official (report) back.”

The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences did not immediately provide a copy of the autopsy, which is classified as public information unless there is an ongoing investigation into the death.

Leigh Richardson, the wife of Dennoriss Richardson, has not seen the official document and claims she does not believe her husband committed suicide.

The sheriff’s department “says he committed suicide from the outset within five days of the investigation,” Leigh Richardson said in a statement. “This is why we fight for the truth. This has definitely not been easy. However, we know that ‘NaNa’ did not commit suicide.”

A private autopsy released to Richardson’s attorney in late December said “a thorough and meticulous investigation must be conducted to rule out staged suicide.”

The private autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Adel Shaker confirmed the state’s findings that Dennoriss Richardson died of “asphyxia due to neck compression,” consistent with hanging.

But the report noted that the hyoid bone of the neck, which is sometimes broken in deaths from hanging and strangulation, was not present when Shaker examined the body. Shaker’s report said this made it impossible for him to determine whether Richardson was murdered or committed suicide.

The hyoid bone does not always provide conclusive evidence about the manner of death, according to forensic pathologist Dr. Thomas Andrew, who has worked in the field for more than 40 years.

“You can’t make a judgment about the manner of death based on the hyoid bone alone,” Andrew said. The hyoid bone breaks in about a quarter of all hangings and half of all strangulations, Andrew added. Instead, “the manner in which death is determined is largely based on evidence and circumstantial information.”

Andrew said it was his standard practice to remove the hyoid bone in cases like Richardson’s, and that he would only give it to private pathologists who would perform secondary autopsies upon request.

Richardson had no physical injuries except to his neck, and his toxicology report was normal, Shaker said. Andrew said these were “important observations.”

In the report, Shaker said it was impossible to conclude how Richardson died without photos of where his body was found or the rope that killed him. According to Shaker, neither was provided with the body.

Roderick Van Daniel, the attorney who represented Dennoriss Richardson in his civil rights lawsuit against Sheffield police, said he also has no photos of the scene.

“This entire investigation is suspicious,” said Van Daniel. He added: “This family and community are tired of the evasive answers and lies being told to them.”

In November, about 100 people marched from City Hall through the quiet streets of Sheffield to the neighboring city of Tuscumbia, where the county sheriff’s department is located, to demand transparency in law enforcement.

“We cannot continue to allow the same things to happen over and over again, nor can we stand up and do something about it,” said organizer Eartist Bridges.

The march was “not just about seeking answers, but about securing a future where our minds and bodies are valued, heard and safe,” said Trinda Owens, a social worker from Sheffield, who stood on the steps during the march from the courthouse. Owens also encouraged protesters to destigmatize conversations about mental health.

Sheriff Balentine called for a federal investigation into Richardson’s death after public outcry. According to Balentine, the FBI investigation is still ongoing. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment on an ongoing investigation.

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Riddle is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.