Monday, June 20, 2016

AG closes "Mississippi Burning" case.

"52 years later, we've done all we could do".  That statement was made by Attorney General Jim Hood at a press conference today.  Mr. Hood announced he was issuing a final report (posted below) on the "Mississippi Burning" case.  Mr. Hood issued the following statement:



Attorney General Jim Hood Announces the Conclusion of the State and Federal

“Mississippi Burning” Case

 

Jackson, Miss.- Attorney General Jim Hood today announced an end to the active federal and state investigation into the 1964 murders of three civil rights volunteers in Neshoba County.

 

At a news conference, Attorney General Hood said investigators have concluded there are no more viable potential criminal charges in what is commonly referred to as the “Mississippi Burning” case.

 

“The FBI, my office and other law enforcement agencies have spent decades chasing leads, searching for evidence and fighting for justice for the three young men who were senselessly murdered on June 21, 1964,” Attorney General Hood said. “It has been a thorough and complete investigation.  I am convinced that during the last 52 years, investigators have done everything possible under the law to find those responsible and hold them accountable; however, we have determined that there is no likelihood of any additional convictions. Absent any new information presented to the FBI or my office, this case will be closed.”

 

James Earl Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner disappeared the night of June 21, 1964. Their bodies were discovered 44 days later. The three were in the area working to register African American voters.

 

In 1967, one man pleaded guilty and seven others were tried and convicted of federal civil rights violations related to the murders.  In 2005, the Attorney General’s Office and Neshoba County District Attorney’s Office secured a manslaughter conviction for Edgar Ray Killen, who is currently serving a 60-year prison sentence.

 

The U.S. Department of Justice recently presented its findings to Attorney General Hood, who determined based on those findings that there were no other viable prosecutions in the “Mississippi Burning” case or related cases.

 

Attorney General Hood said the most recent development in the case was approximately 18 months ago, when a witness backed out at the last minute after pledging to sign a sworn statement that would have implicated a suspect.

 

The Attorney General has informed relatives of the victims about the decision to close the case. Those family members recognize the work of law enforcement over the years to solve the crimes, he said.

 

“We sincerely appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears of the FBI agents, Department of Justice officials, Navy Seabees, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and local court offices that assisted in this case,” Attorney General Hood said. “The FBI agents who came into Mississippi faced threats and harassment in addition to the oppressive heat of a Mississippi summer.  Despite a hostile environment, these law enforcement officers remained solely focused on locating the missing and solving this heinous crime.” Attorney General Hood specifically thanked Barry Kowalski and William Nolan of the Department of Justice, as well as, FBI Special Agent Jeromy Turner.

 

At the news conference, Attorney General Hood said closing the case also closes a significant chapter in Mississippi’s history.

 

“The state of Mississippi was committed to seeing this investigation through to fruition and to moving forward,” Attorney General Hood said. “We should all acknowledge that our diversity is this state’s greatest asset. That remarkable diversity manifests itself in the unique culture we share with the world.

 

“Our state and our entire nation are a much better place because of the work of those three young men and others in 1964 who only wanted to ensure that the rights and freedoms promised in our Constitution were afforded to every single one of us in Mississippi.”
 
Kingfish note: Mr. Hood also gave credit to former U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton and FBI agent Jeremy Turner.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

He is suing all corporations in Merica', just because......

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for the whuppin' he's gonna running for Gov in 2019.

Anonymous said...

Clinton Body Shop will now control the auto insurance industry in MS. Not for John Moseley's personal gain though, "for the people".

Anonymous said...

WLBT is saying it relates to the MS Burning Case

Anonymous said...

Maybe Killen's final sentencing date with the man upstairs has come up.

Anonymous said...

somehow Donna Ladd takes credit

Anonymous said...

It was a horrendous, deplorable crime, just like all of the Civil Rights crimes; however, the "investigations" will NEVER be over. Not on this civil rights case or any other. It can't be. It's Mississippi's only lasting legacy and one of the State's 3 major industries: Music, Food, and Race.

Micah Gober said...

Will the Clairon Ledger fire Jerry Mitchell because he will not have anything to write about. What about Donna (burn my bra) Ladd, does that mean the JFP will go out of business. Oh Lord, the world is ending. No Jerry or Donna articles about Mississippi Darkest Past how white people like me are to blame.

Anonymous said...

5:42, I bet you have a lot of black friends.

Kingfish said...

Those of you making snarky little comments, I'll tell you what. If it had been YOUR loved one who was brutally murdered such as these were, you'd be raising hell for the cops to keep investigating no matter what. I'm just sure you would've forgotten about it after 20, 30, 40, or 50 years.

Wage/Hour said...

Save the drama, Kingfish.

Just the other day Hood was bitching about having to put his staff on overtime to deal with lawsuits caused by Phil's signing of the 'Wedding Cake' law. Maybe concluding this case will free up precious time for those staff members to process that additional paperwork Phil caused.

One would think Hood might know that his staff members who are responding to lawsuits are probably all exempt from overtime rules. But he can't let that get in the way of his attention grab.

Anonymous said...

10:09 - I will be STUNNED if Hood runs for gov.

I will vote for him if he does, though

Governors For 300 said...

Contest: Name the last governor of Mississippi to have sported a Mullet.

Anonymous said...

@7:31. Your assumption is that there is justice in Mississippi. lulz. Excuse while I fall on the floor and lmao.

/I'm better now, but the lack of justice in Mississippi is not laughable.

Anonymous said...

Oh, let's all pretend that the murderers weren't local heroes at the time and didn't brag about what they did. Let's pretend that those who knew weren't too chicken livered or supportive to come forward then or now.
I can imagine the rationalizations.
And, let's pretend the rest of the country doesn't get it and shake their heads in disbelief.

White Guilt Is A Thick Cloud said...

Mississippi also has a history of putting 80 year old men in jail based on scant evidence or none at all. It's all about making a name for a prosecutor and the white-guilt, catharsis-syndrome that overcomes people who make shit up.

Some of you libbies would advocate jailing every man in the county over the age of 79 when the perps are dead and gone.

Anonymous said...


Obama was elected because of white guilt. I am white and I do not feel any guilt because I had nothing to do with slavery or the mistreatment of blacks. I'm 73 and my great grandfather owned slaves and that was a problem he had to deal with when he went to meet his maker. I'm not going to punish myself over something I had nothing to do with---GET OVER IT !!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

11:16, slavery isn't something that is forbidden by their maker. Ever tried reading the bible? Might see a few other things that was very common back in the bible days that people think you will go to hell for now days.

Anonymous said...

..if you use the non-word 'lulz'...

You might drive a Volvo.

Anonymous said...

11:16 am Be realistic! My family owned slaves as well, but I am not in denial that they contributed to a problem that still exists. I don't glorify the past without also acknowledging the unpleasant legacy and the prejudices that were passed along . It wasn't my slave owning ancestor that denied the former slaves and their children and grandchildren and great grandchildren the right to vote or have a good education or rise on their merit. Prejudice continued right on down to our parents . I know that my grandfather and father and I got a better education and benefitted from the successes of my family and we did so at the expense of others. So, yes, I accept that breeding slaves to do labor rather than be scientists and creating a matriarchal culture where having lots of babies was valued has a long lasting negative effect. I want my family name in the future to be associated with improving society. It's not guilt. It's restoring honor. If I came from a family of thieves and benefitted the ill gotten gains, it would hardly surprise me that the families I robbed didn't like or trust my family. I'd understand that I would have to demonstrate that I wasn't a thief to earn back trust and respect. And, if I wanted them to judge me on my individual merits and behavior rather than that of my relatives that were less than honorable, I would need to extend them the same courtesy.
It's also a matter of feeling responsible to my family members who fought and some died for our freedoms. It's not all about me other than I should be the best I can be. It's about the legacy I leave and that should be to make this Nation more united and stronger. That involves all the good and decent people pulling together and pulling the weaker among us up, not tearing each other down! And, sometimes all we can do is be a good role model. Do unto others as you want others to do unto you actually has merit. So don't paint everyone in another race or religion with the broad brush of their failures unless you want them to do the same to you!


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