The Sheriff’s Office in Colbert County, Alabama, has requested the FBI’s assistance in investigating the case of Denoris Richardson, a 39-year-old black man whose body was discovered hanging in an abandoned house. His wife asserts that the circumstances surrounding his death suggest foul play and that it was staged to appear as a suicide.
Richardson’s body was located in September, as reported by the Associated Press. The sheriff’s office has not yet responded to inquiries from NBC News regarding the ongoing situation. The FBI has acknowledged awareness of Richardson’s death but has refrained from confirming or denying its involvement in the investigation.
In a statement, the FBI expressed concern over the tragic event: “The FBI is aware of the tragic death of Denoris Richardson and takes allegations of violations of federal law seriously. The FBI will duly consider allegations of criminal activity and will pursue further investigation if there is evidence of a potential violation of federal law.”
Richardson was discovered hanging from a rope at his residence in Colbert County on September 28. Initially, the sheriff’s office classified his death as a suicide, according to the Associated Press.
However, his wife, Lee Ann Richardson, expressed doubt over the official conclusion in an interview with AL.com, insisting that the evidence does not support suicide. “This was made to look like a suicide. It’s not a suicide,” she stated.
She mentioned that her husband had filed a federal lawsuit in February against the police department in Sheffield, Alabama, alleging mistreatment during his incarceration at the Sheffield City Jail in 2022. Notably, the recent developments in that federal case involve Denoris Richardson’s wife as his surrogate representative.
The attorney for the sheriff’s office did not reply to requests for comment regarding the investigation.
Per AL.com, Sheriff Eric Valentine indicated that police had spoken with other family members who claimed Richardson was experiencing depression. “The DA’s office ordered an autopsy. The body was sent to the Forensic Department in Huntsville. The cause of death was suicide,” Sheriff Valentine stated.
The Associated Press reported that Sheriff Valentine confirmed the FBI accepted the request for an investigation, indicating that the local agency had “exhausted every resource” in their inquiry.
Lee Ann Richardson added that her husband, who was released on bail for drug-related charges at the time of his death, had previously given some jewelry to their son, suggesting he was preparing to return to prison to complete his sentence. “He wasn’t depressed,” she stated emphatically.
