"We don't really know what the motive is," Ard said. [2] The informant, fearing for his life, did not share this information with the FBI until two years after the arson. When the group began to phase out in Ferriday and the other towns by 1966, the FBI stopped keeping close tabs on the Deacons. A Ferriday man shot a Vidalia woman before killing himself with the same gun Tuesday afternoon in Ferriday. Check out these great suggestions. (KNOE) - Authorities are investigating what they believe to be a murder-suicide in Concordia Parish. Two others from Ferriday Dantreze Scott, 24, and Deandra Griggs, who will be 23 in April are each charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. They handed out flyers and leaflets to local congregations and spoke at churches. We were able to get a dying declaration from the dad before he expired, Webre said. (KTVE/KARD) On Wednesday September 15, officers with the Ferriday Police Department arrested 19-year-old Denzel Washington for 2nd Degree Murder. [2] In 2008, the FBI, through local media, informed the public that they were offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the Morris case. On February 27, 1967, Wharlest Jackson, an employee at Armstrong Tire & Rubber Company in Natchez, Mississippi, was killed when a bomb exploded under the hood of his car while he was driving home. . Concordia Parish authorities investigating suspected murder-suicide - KNOE Representatives of the non-violent Congress of Racial Equality flocked to Ferriday, deemed an outlaw town by the U.S. Justice Departments head civil rights attorney, John Doar. Until now, the case has gone unsolved. Solving A 1964 Cold Case: Mystery Of Frank Morris : NPR One such informant, known as Orvin C. "Coonie" Poissot, was a Klansman from Texas who had a relationship with a local sheriff's deputy named Frank Delaughter, whom Poissot implicated as a conspirator in the murder of Frank Morris. Copyright 2019 WLBT. Officials had said that Theriot was believed to have been Summers boyfriend, but her family strongly denies that they were dating. Violent Klansmen had long been embedded with corrupt cops, some of whom wore robes themselves. Mr. McCrays zeal for education, infectious smile, gentle personality, fashion sense, and love for children will be missed by all of us at Natchez-Adams School District. COREs main task was to test whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were being implemented, and for this their workers suffered in Ferriday. The Silver Dollar Group (SDG) was a violent and exceptionally militant Klan offshoot that operated in Adams County between 1964 and 1967. According to LSP,. A Louisiana man accused of shooting to death five people, including his parents, at two locations last week has confessed to the killings, but the motive is still unknown, authorities said Tuesday. All games are FREE. 21-year-old Louisiana man confesses to killing his parents and three in The sheriff's office said the suspect allegedly pointed a gun out the window of his vehicle causing deputies to seek cover, and that he was ordered to drop his weapon and was arrested without incident. LSP investigating officer-involved shooting in Concordia Parish Morris opened the front door of the shop, where he was met by two men in their thirties, one of whom was armed with a shotgun. All rights reserved. The suspects then drove the body to an old food plant, where they hid it under plywood and garbage. Cops are investigating a double shooting -- including one fatality -- in the now-famous L.A. neighborhood where the movie "Friday" was filmed. When Theriot arrived at the home, deputies were already there. [2] Three new subjects were identified, but the investigators did not uncover any credible physical evidence supporting the allegations. [2] The FBI investigators believed that Morris knew his attackers, but was unwilling to divulge their identities. FERRIDAY, La. Carl Ray Thompson, then 26, spotted his cousin's two-toned. Cold Case: James Ford Seale: A sheriff's election, nine deaths and a silver dollar, Cold Case: Who killed Joseph Edwards? Ferriday, La. "He has confessed to killing the five victims," Ard said. Crime rate in Ferriday, LA - City-Data This was of interest to the FBI, as multiple informants stated that the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Department had prior knowledge of the coming attack on Morris, and was told to "be on the other side of the parish". Natchez Democrat. He was also named 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year. Sons of KKK members haunted by sins of their fathers - The Daily Advertiser "So, this is a monster.". "[2] The FBI collected evidence at the crime scene and conducted interviews with local law enforcement, local Klan leaders, and witnesses. Dec 16, 2020. Every murder is a senseless murder and this one certainly fits those criteria. The sheriffs office said the incident happened on June 23 in the Ferriday area in northeast Louisiana. He was killed when the shop burned down in 1964. More:Sons of Klansmen tied to Louisiana murder haunted by sins of their fathers. Frank Morris fathered one child, and had two grandchildren. Ard has said that Theriot left the Ernests' home in Livingston Parish in Billy Ernests pickup truck on the morning of the killings and that he was in the same vehicle when he was arrested in Virginia. David Whatley was among the men inspired by Morris life and angered by his murder, and he would become the youngest member of the group that took on Klansmen and bad cops when they organized the Ferriday chapter of the Deacons for Defense and Justice. The single-engine Air Tractor 502 crashed around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday along Louisiana 425, about five miles south of Sicily Island, according to a news release from the Northeast Louisiana. On 50th anniversary of Ferriday civil rights killing - Louisiana Voice Both were pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff's office says the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide and that there . Davis furnished the bureau a list of Ferriday Deacons, and he identified former Harlem Globetrotter Johnny Lloyd, who was a four-sport coach at the local black school Sevier High, as a Deacon. ranks 6th in nation for best home security, SPD reports low home burglary count, Louisiana Cancer Research center expanding its research opportunities, KNOE Monday Evening Forecast with Chief Meteorologist Marcus Walter. That continues today, and even now.. Nelson investigated rumors that police officers possibly committed the arson; according to Della Mae Smith, "Deputy Frank DeLaughter had organized the arson" and local police had set the home ablaze. No subscription required to play. [3] Morris had a shoe repair shop in Ferriday, and died after his shoe repair shop was burned. Had Duncan and the others not rescued Lewis, the police might have dropped him off at the railroad crossing in Vidalia, where Klansmen often waited when black people were released from the jail. McCray dutifully taught Technology Foundations and also served as Assistant Test Coordinator. Nelson, Stanley. One of the men who was attacked, Michael Clurman, told the Concordia Sentinel in 2007 that his co-worker, Mel Atcheson of Iowa, was beaten and kicked in the face by a white man on the streets of Ferriday in July 1965. Two charged with murder after Natchez Teacher of the Year killed in La. FERRIDAY, La. Our effort here, as it is everywhere, is to try and uncover the truth. If they held somebody in there that actually hadnt done anything but was falsely accused, we would support them by showing up in court., More:Here are 19 of the most influential civil rights leaders of today. It was higher than in 73.6% U.S. cities. Harp and colleagues also found a "slightly scorched" suitcase filled with fourteen and a half pints of bourbon. Authorities in Concordia Parish say they are investigating the murder of a man recently named Teacher of the Year. Although both the Deacons and its younger subgroup were secretive, they let members of the black community know they would protect them from the Klan and law enforcement. The Deacons connection to churches inspired the groups name. [3][4], In 2007, Silver Dollar Group member James Ford Seale was charged and convicted for the May 1964 kidnapping of Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charles Eddie Moore, two African-American young men in Meadville, Mississippi.[5]. Some members of local law enforcement, including Concordia Parish Sheriff Department deputies Frank DeLaughter and Bill Ogden, were members of the Silver Dollar Group. FERRIDAY, La. Deacons for Defense and Justice in Ferriday, Louisiana took a stand He was killed when the shop burned down in 1964. Silver Dollar Group - Wikipedia This page was last edited on 3 April 2023, at 04:13. Justice may finally be served, thanks to the reporting of Stanley Nelson of the weekly Concordia Sentinel. A black businessman was burned to death in tiny Ferriday, La., in 1964. Webre has said that shooting was reported at around 8:45 a.m. Investigators believe Theriot was staying with the Ernest family because he had been kicked out of his parents' home, Ard said. They quickly gave chase, pursuing the yellow Pontiac for several miles before Duncan watched their headlights start fading away. The sheriff said Theriot is cooperating with the investigation. McCray drove the suspects to a location around Bayou Drive in Ferriday, where the suspects pulled out a gun and shot him. Minutes later, he, not his attackers, was arrested. Man shoots woman, kills himself | Crime | hannapub.com Whatley said Klansmen also shot out the lights on his grandmothers house and drove around the home several times for days to intimidate the family. No one was hurt during the arrest, Ard said. These men had long been outraged by one horrid memory - the 1964 arson murder of Ferriday shoe shop owner Frank Morris. Two white CORE members, who practiced the non-violent approach championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were beaten. At approximately noon Sunday, Grant Dunbar, 24, was found dead at a residence in the area of Fifth Street and Georgia Avenue in Ferriday, said Ferriday Police Chief Sam King. Autopsies for Theriots parents were scheduled for Tuesday, Webre said. James Poissot of Baton Rouge never knew his father, but knew he was a violent man who beat James' mother so severely . Before those killings, Dakota Theriot allegedly killed Summer Ernest, 20, her father Billy Ernest, 43, and her brother, Tanner Ernest, 17. [1][pageneeded] The shop was also his residence. Not far from Lewis home lived Antonne Duncan, who days later ran through a Klan roadblock when he and other African American men transported Lewis home after his release from jail. ", Courtesy of the Concordia Sentinel and William Brown, Concorida Sentinel: Rayville Man Implicated In Morris Case, Concordia Sentinel: Feds Vow To Solve Morris Murder, Civil Rights Cold Case Project: Frank Morris Case, Civil Rights Cold Case Project: Frank Morris Case Archives, 2010 Report: Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act of 2007. "We are actively, as we speak involved in this investigation. All rights reserved. Morris had a shoe repair shop in Ferriday, and died after his shoe repair shop was burned. Juvenile triple-murderer back in court 10 years later In three interviews conducted by FBI investigators, Morris stated that "he saw a man pouring gasoline around the place [] another man had a shotgun and told him 'to get back in there, nigger'". Lewis later told the Concordia Sentinel that it was a dreaded thing for a black man to be placed into a police car and taken to jail. All rights reserved. Another has been arrested on a second-degree murder charge Tuesday in relation to a fatal shooting that took place Sunday afternoon in broad daylight in Ferriday. Warrants have been signed for a Ferriday man who allegedly shot and killed another Ferriday man early Saturday morning in Ferriday. Morris, in particular, is featured in this text. Frank Morris (in the apron and visor) is seen standing in front of his shoe shop in Ferriday, La., in the 1950s. Frank Morris (in the apron and visor) is seen standing in front of his shoe shop in Ferriday, La., in the 1950s. Morris was interviewed three times; however, he was heavily medicated. "We just know what he did. Law officials said deputies responded to a report of a. Soon, Lewis was back in his Ferriday home and reunited with his wife and children. Later that week, officers Frank DeLaughter and Bill Ogden intimidated Kelly and forced him out of town. Harp's new information regarding Morris shed doubt on the story concerning DeLaughter. FERRIDAY, La. The late Sammy Davis Jr. no relation to the famous entertainer was elected Ferridays first black mayor in 1984. Police say it happened on Johnson Street around 5 p.m. In February1968, the second investigation was closed when the FBI determined that there was insufficient evidence to charge any of the suspects. Frank Morris's mother, Charlotte, died shortly after his birth. They were identified as 65-year-old Mark Clark and 49-year-old Donna R. Clark, both of Ferriday. In a report from the Concordi UPDATE: Joint investigation leads to arrest of Ferriday man involved in McCray drove the suspects to a location around Bayou Drive in Ferriday, where the suspects pulled out a gun and shot him. CPSO says upon arrival, they found two bodies with fatal gunshot wounds. Two WHARBOM informants also reported information regarding the murder of Morris, and the FBI reopened the Morris investigation in August 1967. Wed march on the jail. The population of Adams County was split roughly in half between blacks and whites. Whatley contacted COREs central office after the attack, sparking an FBI investigation. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Ferriday Police investigating suspected murder-suicide, West Monroe man arrested after allegedly raping adopted daughter, Monroe duo arrested for alleged sex trafficking of minor, 10-year-old shot during argument, Marion man arrested, 2 Winnfield residents arrested following death of 3 year old, One lucky winner in Arkansas is about to become $2.338M richer, La. [2] According to these informants, Morace was the primary conspirator in the murder of Morris; however, the FBI could not find any physical evidence corroborating their witnesses. Ku Klux Klan (KKK) activity was exceptionally high during the Civil Rights era. According to police, the man shot his girlfriend and then shot himself. [3] Much like the other Mississippi counties, law enforcement and the courts were run by whites. All games are FREE. Still inside at the time, Morris was severely injured; he died four days later at a nearby hospital in Ferriday, La. The newspapers the bourbon was wrapped in had no signs of burning, indicating tampering with the scene. [according to whom?] "We've got a better picture on how this happened. Much like the Morris case, witness accounts were not corroborating, and in August 1968, the investigation was closed. The FBI later concluded that the local Klan was likely to be involved, but conflicting accounts, no viable subjects, and lack of a motive led to the investigation being closed in May1965. The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office was called to the home at around 8:47 a.m. that morning, he said. . The Natchez-Adams School District said he taught 8th grade at Morgantown Middle School. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. No charges have been brought despite three FBI investigations. "We dont know if we will ever have a motive exactly why this happened.". Duncan and a few other young, armed Deacons piled into his brothers canary yellow Pontiac to rescue Lewis, who also received help from a white bondsman from New Orleans. The project reporters have already produced information in high-profile cases that prosecutors have used to build criminal cases against killers and conspirators who had walked free for more than 40 years. ranks 6th in nation for best home security, SPD reports low home burglary count, Louisiana Cancer Research center expanding its research opportunities, KNOE Monday Evening Forecast with Chief Meteorologist Marcus Walter. According to investigators, on the night of the murder Frederick McCray Jr. gave a ride to the two suspects. Duncan was at the wheel, and when they reached the tracks with Lewis in the car, they bolted past Klansmen waiting there. Jeff Davis 8: The True Story of the 'Murder in the Bayou' Killings The shop was very successful and was known by the tag line, "Open every day and half the night", in its ads in the Concordia Sentinel. Nelson published the story Wednesday morning outlining the the allegations against Spencer. [2] During this investigation, the FBI re-interviewed the living witnesses who had first-hand information about the arson, as well as "family members, business owners and neighbors in the vicinity of the shoe shop, law enforcement officers, community members, and former KKK members". 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A Louisiana man accused of shooting to death five people, including his parents, at two locations last week has confessed to the killings, but the motive is still unknown, authorities said. Investigators say the people involved were 19 and 20-years . If youre thinking of altering your workout routine, youre probably looking for new exercises and equipment to help you reach your fitness goals. Louisiana family seeks answers in cold case disappearance, murder Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Dakota Theriot was taken into custody in Virginia after killing five people in Louisiana on Jan. 27, 2019. A local black teacher claimed that after the arson, a rumor was spreading that Morris was facilitating interracial liaisons. According to the sheriff's office, it happened on June 23, 2019, in the. Concordia Parish had 14 recorded racially-motivated murders between 1964 and 1967.[4]. The building was burned down in the early morning of December 10, 1964. He killed five people," Webre said. (KTVE/KARD) On Tuesday August 17 shortly after 2:00 a.m., troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a fatal crash on . Theriots parents, Keith and Elizabeth Theriot, were killed at their home in Ascension Parish and Keith Theriot gave information to investigators before he died that pointed to his son as the suspect, the sheriff of that parish has said. CPSO officials said the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide and there are no suspects at large. CPSO investigates two shooting deaths on Lake St. John Harp described Morris as an alcoholic and had two confrontations with him during 19631965, as well as a small argument outside of the courthouse. At the time of his death, Morris owned the land his shop was on, and he was seen as an honest man who paid his bills on time. He was targeted by the SDG. There have been allegations of witness intimidation, evidence tampering, and involvement by local law enforcement. Once arrested himself on a false claim and held in the local jail for two weeks, Whatley said a primary function of the Ferriday Deacons was to protest the unlawful arrests of local black men. Who Killed Frank Morris? - Nieman Reports When he saw one of the perpetrators fleeing the scene, he instinctively raised his gun and pulled the trigger, only to hear an empty click. In his first year of teaching at Morgantown, Mr. McCray was named the 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year. "Weve got a better picture on how this happened," the sheriff said of the five killings. Two killed in Ferriday . At approximately 1:00a.m., Morris was awakened in a back room of the shop by the sound of glass breaking. The sheriffs office says the incident is being investigated as a murder-suicide and that there are no suspects at large. Nelson interviewed witnesses to uncover unknown facts and haunting recollections about the racially-motivated murders around Ferriday. He would return home wounded physically and confounded mentally over how he could have been considered good enough to risk his life for his country in Vietnam but not good enough to attend the local high school. Later on, Anthony Lucky McCraneys gas station was firebombed, marking the sixth act of racial violence in Ferriday within a two-month period, according to CORE documents. Delaughter lied about his location during the arson, claiming that he was out of the jurisdiction on a non-emergency call. 2023 www.theadvertiser.com. (See pages 14-16 of this PDF.). Ridgen, a filmmaker from Toronto who reported this story for NPR, helped to spearhead the project with Vancouver-based Paperny Films, and the Berkeley, Calif.-based Center for Investigative Reporting. Who would you like to see as our next U.S. president? The state of Mississippi in the Jim Crow era was infamous for racially-fueled lynchings. No subscription required to play. There have been allegations of witness intimidation, evidence tampering, and involvement by local law enforcement. The suspects are identified as Jimmy ONeal Lewis and Cedric Tennessee. Ferriday police chief: Two arrests made in Sunday afternoon killing in [5] Jackson had recently been promoted to a position never before held by an African American. Virginia online court records do not list an attorney for Theriot. There were two children, ages 1 and 7, in the Ernests home when the killing occurred, but they were unharmed and eventually went to a neighbors home for help, Ard said. Part 1:A half-century ago in Jonesboro, armed black men fought back. Morris, a black man who had operated a business with a devoted interracial clientele for 30 years, had become a role model for young black men, many of whom got their first jobs as children helping Morris around his shop. [6] Ferriday Police officer William Howell Harp Jr. alleged that Morris was a bootlegger and sold narcotics. They were identified as 65-year-old Mark Clark and 49-year-old Donna R. Clark, both of Ferriday. In an interview with Nelson, Spencer denies those allegations. The FBI concluded the investigation in 2016 when investigators determined there was insufficient evidence to charge any individual with any federal crimes; furthermore, important witnesses, suspects, and informants were dead. The City of Ferriday hit a dead end with the case, and the sheriff's Department expressed no interest in taking it over.[6]. Frank Morris (19141964) was an American businessman who died as a result of arson to his shoe shop in Ferriday, Louisiana, a city with a history of racial violence. We will continue to update this article as more information becomes available. Beloved Mississippi school bus driver killed during crash with 18-wheeler, Eleven players with Mississippi ties selected in 2023 NFL Draft, Truck possibly connected to Hinds County jail escape found in Newton County, Paraplegic fisherman speaks to Beulah Baptist Church, Belhaven football puts a smile on the face of little girl, City of Byram awarded thousands of state dollars for infrastructure projects, Request a First Alert Weather School Visit, Advertising Non-Discrimination Certification. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) considered the SDG to be a highly-dangerous domestic terror cell, and conducted multiple investigations into its activities. Sons of Klansmen tied to Louisiana murder haunted by sins of their fathers. By Sabrina Simms Robertson. Police investigating Labor Day homicide in Ferriday - NewsBreak He told the FBI in 1965 that though he was not a member, Deacons had sought his advice and counsel. When Jones was interviewed on September22, he stated that "if he was arrested for this crime, officers also would have to arrest DeLaughter". Police said the weapon used the shooting was a .45 caliber pistol. -- David Whatley, the first black student to integrate Ferriday High in 1966, returned from tortuous days at school only to face just as many threats outside his home. The Deacons were unlike any such group before or since. The group is also suspected in the disappearance and murder of an African American employee of the Shamrock Motel, Joseph Edwards. They knew Klansmen would await Lewis release and that deputies would notify the Klan that a black activist was being released from jail.
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