Concerned about the revelation of 215 multiracial bodies discovered in a pauper’s cemetery behind the Hinds County, Mississippi jail, Reverend Hosea Hines, senior Pastor of the Christ Tabernacle Church and the national leader of A New Day Coalition for Equity and Black America (ANCEBA), partnered with Attorney Ben Crump to demand an investigation.
Certain relatives of the deceased individuals, initially presumed missing, are objecting to being charged a fee for the removal of their loved ones’ remains necessary for a proper burial.
During a press conference at Stronger Hope Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, on December 20, Crump was accompanied by three relatives of the deceased men, each holding pictures of their loved ones.
Gretchen Hankins, a white woman, displayed a picture of her son, Jonathan Hankins, 39. Mary Moore Glenn, a Black woman, held a picture of her son, Marrio Moore, 40, while Betterstem Wade displayed a photo of her son, Dexter Wade, 37. The revelation that their relatives were buried behind the jail left them in shock.
Crump, along with co-counsel Dennis Sweet, is demanding answers as to why officials neglected to investigate the deaths and failed to locate the next of kin, opting to bury them in a pauper’s grave near a dirt road by the jail work farm. The gravesites were allegedly marked with a metal rod and a number.
Addressing the situation in Jackson, Mississippi, Crump expressed disbelief, stating, “What is going on in Jackson, Mississippi?”
Reverend Hines shares this concern and, in an interview with the Chicago Crusader, emphasized the unfortunate lack of notification to individual families about the deaths. He expressed sadness over the realization that relatives went for extended periods, some over a year, without knowing the fate of their loved ones, only to discover they had been buried in a pauper’s grave behind a jailhouse.
Hines acknowledged Chief Joseph Wade’s efforts in implementing a new death notification policy and affirmed his commitment to ensuring such incidents do not recur. Supporting Attorney Crump’s call for justice, Hines emphasized the need for accountability on behalf of the 215 individuals, irrespective of their racial backgrounds.
Expressing surprise at such occurrences anywhere in the U.S., Hines underscored the need for improvement and pledged to investigate the causes of the deaths. Regardless of whether these deaths were rooted in racism, prejudice, or bigotry, Hines extended condolences to the affected families, offering prayers for them to discover the truth about their loved ones’ deaths. He affirmed his dedication to uncovering the truth and providing support to the grieving families.
