The cause of Rasheem Carter’s death is unclear, officials say
Rasheem Carter was found dead in Mississippi in November. (Screenshot by NBC Jackson, Miss. Affiliate WLBT, left. Screenshot from a press conference, right)
The cause of death of a black man whose skeletal remains were found in Mississippi and whose mother believes she was lynched and dismembered could not be determined due to the condition of the remains, authorities said.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI) said Wednesday the coroner could not reasonably determine the cause of Rasheem Carter, 25, death.
“Based solely on the condition of the remains, there were no means by which a cause of death could reasonably be determined by the coroner’s office,” officials said in a statement emailed to Law&Crime. “However, the MBI and the Smith County Sheriff’s Department are actively continuing their investigation into Mr. Carter’s death.”
Carter’s skeletal remains were found in Smith County on November 2, 2022, a month after his family reported him missing.
His mother said last week she believes he was lynched, urging the US Department of Justice to investigate the death and a text message he sent her saying white men in trucks were trying to kill him .
Rasheem Carter’s head was severed from his body, his spinal cord was severed from his head and his body parts were scattered, family attorney Ben Crump said.
The Smith County Sheriff’s Department said his body was found Nov. 2 in a wooded area near Taylorsville, about 63 miles southeast of Jackson, Mississippi. Carter was reported missing on October 2 in Laurel, about 22 miles southeast of where his remains were found.
Initially, officials said they had no reason to believe foul play was involved, but also said the case was being investigated further with the help of state investigators and the FBI.
The coroner’s report did not specifically state that Carter was dismembered, CNN reported. Two dozen bones and fragments were found scattered across two acres, and evidence found during the autopsy suggested animals had looted Carter’s remains, the outlet reported.
Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston told CNN he would welcome a federal investigation into the case. He said investigators found no evidence to support claims Carter was being followed.
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https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/cause-of-death-of-black-man-whose-mother-believes-was-lynched-dismembered-could-not-be-determined-authorities/ The cause of Rasheem Carter’s death is unclear, officials say
