FBI intervenes following mysterious death of Black man found hanging in abandoned Alabama house

The FBI has opened an investigation into the death of a Black man found hanging in an abandoned house in rural Colbert County, Alabama, following a request from the local sheriff.

According to local news outlets, Sheriff's deputies discovered 39-year-old Dennoriss Richardson in a rural area of Colbert County, far from his residence in Sheffield, a city of around 10,000 residents near the Tennessee River. His wife, Leigh Richardson, disputes the initial ruling of suicide by local authorities, citing the lack of a suicide note and her husband’s lack of connection to the location where he was found. 

Leigh believes her husband’s death may be linked to a lawsuit he filed against the local police department earlier this year, in which he alleged he was assaulted, denied medical care, and shocked with a Taser while in custody.

The community has expressed concerns about potential misconduct, reflecting a longstanding distrust between Black residents and law enforcement in the area. Civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, representing Leigh Richardson and others with similar complaints against the Sheffield Police Department, voiced concerns about retaliation and fear within the community. “Citizens are living in fear of retaliation,” he said.

Tori Bailey, president of the Colbert County NAACP, emphasized the significance of a hanging in Alabama, a state with a painful history of lynchings. “There has long been a disconnect between communities of color and law enforcement," she said. "Unfortunately, many of us do not feel that law enforcement is actually there to serve and protect.”

Sheriff Eric Balentine, who requested FBI involvement, expressed confidence in the department’s findings but hoped the investigation would bring the family peace. "Transparency is always a good way to mend some fences with the community," he said.

The Sheffield Police Department has not commented on the investigation, and local residents, along with Leigh Richardson and her family, are awaiting further updates, seeking clarity and justice in the case.