Local sheriff asks FBI to investigate death of Black man found hanging in Alabama
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The FBI is investigating the death of a Black man in Alabama, who was found hanging in an abandoned home, following a request from a local sheriff, amid fears among community members who accuse local law enforcement of prolonged, uncontrolled misconduct.
Sheriff’s deputies found Denoriss Richardson, 39, in September in a rural part of Colbert County, miles from his home in Sheffield, a city of about 10,000 near the Tennessee River.
The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office ruled Richardson’s death a suicide. But Richardson’s wife, Leigh Richardson, has said this is not true, explaining that her husband left no note and had no connection to the house where he was found.
Instead, the 40-year-old fears her husband’s death was related to a lawsuit he filed against local police in February. Dennoriss Richardson, who coached children in baseball and football, claimed he was attacked in prison, denied medical attention, tear-gassed and shocked with a Taser.
Leigh Richardson said she is not accusing any specific person but is confident her husband did not commit suicide.
She is not alone in her faith. The widespread skepticism about Richardson’s death underscores the deep-seated mistrust of local law enforcement in Colbert County. In a region where hangings recall a long history of state-sanctioned lynchings of Black people, county residents allege excessive use of force among local law enforcement.
Sheriff Eric Balentine, who confirmed that the FBI accepted his request to investigate, said his department had “exhausted all resources” in its investigation.
“We are confident in our findings, but we feel that by doing this we can provide the family with greater peace of mind,” Balentine said.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Birmingham field office confirmed that the FBI is aware of Dennoriss Richardson’s death and is investigating the allegations of criminal misconduct.
Tori Bailey, the president of the local NAACP chapter and the only Black member of the six-member county commission in Colbert County, said the community’s response to Richardson’s death was motivated in part by the region’s harrowing history with lynchings.
In Alabama, there were 359 reported lynchings between 1877 and 1943, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit criminal justice reform organization. There were 11 in Colbert County alone.
Bailey said that while there may be nothing to these allegations, it makes sense that the community would have a “deep-seated” reaction to a black man hanging up and wanting a more thorough investigation. She said while some officers try to do the right thing, she has documented and investigated many cases of excessive force in the county in her 12 years as NAACP president.
“There has long been something of a disconnect between communities of color and law enforcement. Unfortunately, many of us do not feel that law enforcement is actually there to serve and protect,” Bailey said.
Marvin Long, a 57-year-old black man and lifelong resident of Colbert County, knew Dennoriss Richardson’s family well while growing up. He shares skepticism about the suicide ruling and said Richardson’s death has increased his fear of retaliation.
“To this day I hate seeing a police car,” Long said. “I’m still more scared than ever.”
Long sued Sheffield police last year. After he inquired about an unrelated arrest that occurred just outside his property in 2021, surveillance footage appears to show officers following Long to his home, dragging him down the porch steps and sending the police K9 on him as he screams for help . According to the complaint, Long was unarmed.
Richardson and Long are among five black and Latino men, represented by civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, who have filed lawsuits against the department in recent years.
“Citizens live in fear of retaliation,” Van Daniel said.
In one case, an off-duty Sheffield police officer was caught on surveillance footage punching a black man in a liquor store and pulling a gun on a black man. The officer was later convicted of assault, menacing and reckless endangerment. He was fired from the department.
In a separate lawsuit, a 57-year-old chiropractor claims he was shocked 18 times by a Taser while handcuffed after asking an officer to help him find his wife’s iPhone. Photos included with the suit show several large burn marks, which are believed to be the result of the attack.
Sheffield Police did not respond to numerous calls and emails requesting comment. Attorneys for the officers named in pending lawsuits did not respond to emails.
Balentine, the sheriff since 2023, declined to comment on specific cases. But he said that based on his nearly three decades as an officer in the area, he thought Colbert County residents generally trusted law enforcement.
“If it is proven that it was excessive, I am confident there will be accountability,” he said.
Still, Balentine said he hoped the FBI investigation would alleviate concerns.
“Transparency is always a good way to mend fences with the community,” he said.
Leigh Richardson had known her husband since he was seventeen. She remembers Dennoriss, affectionately known as “Na-Na,” as a warm father to their five children. But she also said his fear of police was not new.
“He was scared at that young age,” Richardson said.
Richardson said her husband was frequently stopped by police after filing the lawsuit. During those months, he tried to “stay out of the way,” she said.
Sheffield Mayor Steve Stanley said Dennoriss Richardson had come to his office at least once to express concern about being profiled. Stanley said he assured Richardson that any officers reported through official channels would be investigated.
Sheffield police have not confirmed whether or how often the department stopped Richardson.
Court records show Dennoriss Richardson had a long history of run-ins with local law enforcement, but the majority of charges in federal and state courts were dismissed.
Dennoriss Richardson pleaded guilty to drug possession in 2006 and was sentenced to five years in prison. Court records show that in the more than 15 years that followed, Richardson was arrested at least six more times by Sheffield police, on charges ranging from disorderly conduct to theft and assault.
None of these charges, with the exception of a traffic violation for expired tags, resulted in a conviction, according to available court records.
The same week Richardson filed his lawsuit against the department, he was accused of trafficking meth. He had been arrested at a house where drugs had reportedly been found. Richardson was out on bond when he died.
Stanley said he strongly supports holding officers accountable for misconduct, but emphasized his overwhelming confidence in them.
“I have preached and believe that at least the majority of officers recognize that everyone deserves respect,” Stanley said.
Still, amid the looming investigation, there is uncertainty in the community.
In early October, Richardson’s friends and family filled the pews of the small Trinity Memorial Funeral Home to commemorate his life. The singing and sermons were punctuated by calls for justice.
From the pulpit, Van Daniel, Richardson’s attorney, said Richardson “believed in transparency and accountability. He stood up against police misconduct.”
There was a steady chorus of “amens” from the crowd as Van Daniel spoke.
“His family and the community of Sheffield deserve answers,” he said. “We deserve answers.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story contains a discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, you can reach the US National Suicide and Crisis Hotline by calling or texting 988.
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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.