A Mississippi mom has claimed that her son, Dexter Wade, a 37-year-old Black man, was struck by a white police officer’s automobile whereas crossing a freeway. In response to Bettersten Wade, the authorities buried him in a pauper’s grave with out informing her for almost six months.
A prescription bottle found on the scene rapidly confirmed the id of Dexter Wade. His mom mentioned she had been persistently reaching out to the police for info.
However, his physique remained unclaimed in a morgue for 172 days whereas his mom tirelessly looked for solutions. The 65-year-old lady mentioned the police disclosed the main points of his dying later and knowledgeable her that her son had been laid to relaxation in a grave meant for these within the penal system, in response to the Day by day Mail.
The grieving mom was escorted to the burial web site, which was unmarked apart from a plot quantity. Overwhelmed with sorrow, she knelt down in anguish and tearfully expressed her regret, saying, “I’m sorry, child. I’m so sorry.”
Dexter Wade went lacking on March 5 after a dispute together with his mom. On the identical day, he was allegedly hit and fatally injured by an off-duty officer driving an SUV. The incident was categorized as an accident, and toxicology studies indicated the presence of PCP and methamphetamine in Dexter’s system on the time of his dying.
A coroner recognized him and claimed to have left a voicemail for Bettersten Wade, though it stays unsure whether or not she ever obtained it. The coroner acknowledged that he supplied info to the police for the aim of notifying the household and issuing the official dying discover, however this significant step was by no means taken. With almost ten days passing with none updates, Bettersten Wade took the initiative to report her son as lacking to the police.
She was hesitant initially, on condition that her brother had misplaced his life by the hands of one other Jackson police officer in 2019. The police officer in query was convicted of manslaughter for fatally slamming George Robinson, aged 62, to the bottom. He’s presently interesting this conviction, whereas Bettersten Wade’s household has initiated a wrongful dying lawsuit that’s nonetheless awaiting decision.
In mild of those circumstances, Bettersten Wade has raised issues about whether or not her son’s tragic dying is perhaps related to a potential “vendetta” in opposition to her because of the ongoing authorized motion.
Throughout the preliminary days of the seek for Dexter Wade, an investigator took an incident report, however there was an preliminary misspelling of his title. In her decided effort to search out her son, Bettersten Wade despatched a number of photographs of him to the police and turned to social media, posting more and more determined pleas on Fb for help in finding him.
For a number of months, she continued to hunt the general public’s assist in discovering Dexter Wade. In a poignant submit from July, she expressed her heartbreak, conveying the longing of his youngsters, members of the family, and pals, saying, “Dexter, your youngsters miss you, I miss you, and your Grandma, sister, auntie, cousins, and pals miss you. You don’t have to return residence, simply tell us you’re all proper. We love you.”
Candice Thomas, the mom of Dexter Wade’s two daughters, mentioned her daughters’ rising concern concerning the whereabouts of their father bought her anxious. The coroner disclosed that they made repeated efforts to contact the police to find Dexter Wade’s subsequent of kin however have been knowledgeable of no progress. In the end, they sought approval to put Dexter Wade to relaxation on the Hinds County Penal Farm, a request that was granted in April, as reported by the Mail.
Bettersten Wade mentioned she solely realized of her son’s dying in August. She was then reportedly compelled to pay a $250 charge to assert his physique. At his gravesite, she tearfully expressed her apologies and love, saying, “Dexter, I wish to let you know I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry this occurred to you. However Mama didn’t know. Mama didn’t know. I at all times liked you, and I miss you. Farewell, child. Farewell.”
Bettersten Wade is now in search of to boost $100,000 via a GoFundMe marketing campaign to exhume her son’s physique and supply him with a correct funeral.
A spokesperson for Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba has acknowledged that the police didn’t deliberately trigger hurt to Dexter Wade. They acknowledged that there was miscommunication however emphasised that there was no malicious intent concerned in all the scenario.
