An independent autopsy determined Dau Mabil's death was not a homicide.
Mabil disappeared on March 25 when he went for a walk in Belhaven. He was the subject of a massive search by law enforcement and numerous volunteers. The 34 year-old African immigrant was a favorite at Sal & Mookies where he was a manager. He was married to Karissa Bowley. Lawrence County deputies recovered Dau Mabil's body in the Pearl River on April 13. The body was transferred to the Capitol Police. The State Medical Examiner said Mabil died of drowning but the manner of death could not be determined due to the advanced decomposition of his body. Dau's brother, Bul, skirmished with Dau's wife, Karissa Bowley, in Hinds County Chancery Court over whether he could commission an independent autopsy. Chancellor Dewayne Thomas ruled only Ms. Bowley had the power to authorize an independent autopsy. She said she would allow Bul to order the second autopsy if it met the Court's conditions. Judge Thomas decreed:The independent autopsy shall be conducted only by a pathologist who is at least as qualified as is generally required of pathologists conducting autopsies for the State of Mississippi; the pathologist must be an M.D. or D.O. who is certified in anatomic pathology by the American Board of Pathology and must be competent to meet the qualifications as set forth in Mississippi Code Annotated §41-61-65. All costs of the independent autopsy shall be born by Bul Garang Mabil.
Dr. Daniel Schultz, MD of the Autopsy Doctor in Tampa, FL conducted the second autopsy.
The autopsy concludes Mabil did not meet foul play:
There is no indication of any significant external or internal trauma (but for being found immersed in water) after complete first and second autopsies (two separate, independent pathologist examinations) and consideration of circumstances as known. To be clear: Drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other reasonable causes have been excluded while stating he either drowned or committed suicide: The two reasonable manners, after careful thought of objective and historical data, are that accident is most likely and suicide next most likely. Homicide is reasonably excluded. Because accident and suicide cannot be completely distinguished based on the information at this time, undetermined manner is most reasonable to say Although Mabil's brother, Bol, questioned the first autopsy, the second autopsy agreed with the findings of the earlier one. He accused Bowley's father and brothers of kidnapping and killing her husband. However, the atuodsy disagreed with Bol:An allegation that had been circulating (provided by his brother Bul Mabil and discussed on various media sources) involves a surveillance video showing purportedly an “abduction”, which believed to be of Dau Mabil. After my own repeated and lengthy review of the supplied video (from Bul), evidence of a kidnapping or someone being harmed is simply not supported. The video has a blurred image from a distance of probably some people moving, but with no specific activity. I do not see an abduction occurring. And it is extremely important to also consider in context of the two independent autopsies (one by the state and one by a pathologist [myself] effectively hired by those who think that this might be a homicide and want to clarify). My role is to be honest and neutral. And in that vein, there is no evidence of foul play. The autopsies exclude other reasonable causes (medical/traumatic), and thus drowning is the most reasonable."
Dr. Schultz speculated Mabil could have entered the ever at or near the low-head dam.
Dau's remains were returned to Karissa. The widow and her family buried Dau February 9.
Bol Mabil did not take news of the funeral well at all as he accused Ms. Bowley's family of murder in a Facebook post earlier this week (The allegations are completely at odds with two autopsies and are unsubstantiated- KF):
27 comments:
No lottery on this one.
First question---was he buried or cremated? Warn St. Andrews Church? Is he planning on digging up the body or trying to steal the ashes? Its time for wife and family to file lawsuit against the brother.
I suppose there are Criminal penalties (in addition to Civil penalties) for SLANDER. Previously, I suppose, some people had been led to see themselves immune to such penalties. However, considering this year's paradigmatic shift, where legalities are concerned...
Well what is the point of suing somebody who doesn’t have any money?
Maybe they will let this poor soul be at rest.
Now it is clear he dried by drowning.
It is clear that the video provided by his family does not prove one way or the other that he was abducted. So, ultimately it is not clear whether the drowning was by accident, suicide, or homicide. The pathologist saying homicide can reasonably be excluded is his opinion.
The only thing resolved now is that he drowned the cause of death for sure. Reason or causality for drowning will never be able to be determined.
The question that will always stick with me in this case is who of us around here, when describing Jackson has ever said: "Jackson, home to the Pearl River" ? That will always be weird for me.
There was obviously a great deal of animosity from his family regarding the deceased man's choice of a wife, especially because she was white and living in "racist Mississippi". They have never gotten over it. The race thing blinds them to all other facts. The sad part is that there are many opportunists who will support their fears and fan the flames for their own agenda. They are constantly looking for a victim and will create one even when there is no victim. It's past time to let the man rest in peace.
I hope his widow finds resolution after this thorough report. Her ex-brother-in-law should go back to his own culture and stay out of ours.
Denial is a powerful emotion.
His wife's family has not proved that they did not kill him. This is Mississippi, he was black, she was white, he is dead, therefore unless they prove they did not kill him....
Crazy stuff.
The filthy water in the Pearl is enough to kill anyone.
Please, prayers first. Don’t be your normal christian hypocrite
Spent a lot of time by the low head dam as a kid. Not sure what it looks like now but there were many ways to slip and enter the water. It’s pretty interesting area and I’ve seen guys do stupid things and make mistakes.
@7:20 - This is America. You do not have to prove that you did not kill someone. The state has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you did.
Thank you. Why is this not taught in 5th Grade Civics? Television Nation is getting dumber by the second.
Lisa Ross said this was a lynching and said she had evidence.
Where is it, Lisa?
She should be disbarred.
From April 2924
Calls growing for federal investigation
A network of local and national civil rights leaders and community advocates have gathered surveillance videos and photos that they say point to possible suspects in Mabil’s disappearance and death, with some believing that a hate crime might have occurred. In one of those videos, the family believes what’s shown is a handful of men carrying a body-sized object under a white sheet, in the area where Dau was last seen alive. Dau was 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed about 145 pounds. NBC News has seen a number of these clips, provided by the NAACP, which also show a pickup truck and various unidentified men in the area where Mabil would’ve been. One of those men appeared to have a stocking or mask pulled over his face, wearing a jacket and gloves, on a day with a high temperature in the 70s.
This and other bits of new information have sparked a call for federal intervention in the investigation. On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, whose district includes Jackson, sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland expressing his concerns over Dau Mabil’s disappearance and calling on federal assistance “before evidence is lost or destroyed.”
“Your immediate attention is necessary because of the circumstances surrounding [Dau’s] disappearance,” Thompson said in his letter.
Derrick Johnson, head of the national NAACP, is calling for federal assistance in the case while also expressing dissatisfaction with Capitol Police.
“The NAACP stands with the Mabil family and the Jackson community in mourning the loss of Dau Mabil. It is our hope that the recovery of Dau’s body will allow his family to grieve while we fight for justice,” Johnson said. “Dau’s life mattered, and everything must be done to ensure that his tragic death receives the investigative due diligence it deserves.”
“It is unacceptable,” he added, “that for weeks, the Mississippi Capitol Police have failed to follow the basic fact patterns while delaying the course of justice. We are disgusted, but not surprised. This is not the first time that Capitol Police have neglected the Black Jacksonians they supposedly serve.”
City law enforcement sources have privately complained that Capitol Police haven’t followed up on basic leads and haven’t been forthcoming with the public about what they know about the case and possible evidence that might counter the narrative that no foul play was involved in Mabil’s death.
This can't be right.
An attorney for the family held a press conference and represented to the national media that Mabil was murdered the same way Emmitt Till was.
I guess she will now hold a follow -up press confernce, because as an officer of the court she would not want to misrepresent anything so serious.
Imagine his home life, having to be surrounded by that family taking on the latest & greatest social justice cause. Makes sense.
April 2024
Perhaps Merrick, Bennie and Derrick could co-author a letter to the NAACP and other Amewricans, expressing relief that there was no foul play involved in this incident.
I'll wait...
I fail to see how the autopsy affirmatively ruled out homicide. How did they determine he was not simply pushed into a raging river without leaving any discernable trauma from the shove itself? That being said, probably not.
Where are the videos and/or photos that indicate abduction or foul play? Are they public? If so, ought to be easy to ID the truck, guys, hunters, etc. If not public, why not? They (either the family or law enforcement) should release them - we can all help investigate the case. If there is evidence of abduction, get it out there and let it be judged.
This mystery sounds pretty clear to me that this young man had a severe ETOH abuse problem going on for several years and on that particular day had not had any or not enough for his body's quota for the day. Went for a walk down by the river and experienced an acute ETOH severe withdrawal episode with seizure activity and falling into the water leading to drowning. I have witnessed these episodes numerous times over the years and if you are not already in the hospital for detox meds you are probably not going to make it. Sad story all around but was preventable.
What is more likely - that Dau’s death was an accident or that a black-dominated city police force is covering up a racially-motivated murder?
gee wiz fish.........you usually love to comment on attorney misconduct. why you clam up here?
I am glad this is somewhat resolved. this was a tragedy, and it got very very messy. Now the question is. Where is the evidence that Lisa Ross was harping about when the body was found? From what it looks like, she was having a field day with the media, and those very huge statements did not pass muster with the autopsy. Additionally, the brother has been relentless with the statements and the accusations on his social media presence. Are there any ramifications toward this? And will this craziness of theories and such end? I am curious what the end game is with this case.
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