The FBI is investigating the death of a black man in Alabama, who was found hanging in an abandoned house, following a request from a local sheriff, amid fears from community members who blame the forces of long-standing and uncontrolled local misconduct.
Sheriff’s deputies found Dennoriss Richardson, 39, in September in a rural part of Colbert County, miles from her home in Sheffield, a town of about 10,000 near the Tennessee River.
The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office ruled Richardson’s death a suicide. But Richardson’s wife, Leigh Richardson, said that wasn’t true, explaining that her husband left no messages and had no connection to the house where he was found.
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Instead, the 40-year-old fears her husband’s death may be linked to a lawsuit he filed against local police in February. Dennoriss Richardson, who coached children in baseball and football, said he was assaulted, denied medical care, tear-gassed and shocked with a Taser while in jail.
Leigh Richardson said she was not blaming anyone in particular, but insisted her husband did not kill himself.
She’s not the only one to believe it. Widespread skepticism about Richardson’s death underscores a deep distrust of local law enforcement in Colbert County. In a region where hanging evokes a long history of state-sanctioned lynchings against black people, county residents denounce excessive use of force among local law enforcement.
Sheriff Eric Balentine, who confirmed that the FBI had accepted his request for an investigation, said his department “exhausted all resources” in its investigation.
“We are confident in our findings, but we believe that by doing this we can give the family more peace of mind,” Balentine said.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Birmingham Field Office confirmed that the FBI was aware of Dennoriss Richardson’s death and was looking into allegations of criminal misconduct.
Tori Bailey, president of the local NAACP chapter and the only Black member of the six-person Colbert County Commission, said the community’s reaction to Richardson’s death was partly informed by the heartbreaking story of the region in terms of lynchings.
In Alabama, 359 lynchings were reported between 1877 and 1943, according to the Equal Justice Initiative, a criminal justice reform nonprofit. In Colbert County alone, there were 11.
Bailey said that while there is nothing in these accusations, it makes sense that the community would have a “visceral” reaction to the hanging of a Black man and would want a more thorough investigation. She said that while some officers were trying to do the right thing, during her 12 years as president of the NAACP, she had documented and investigated many cases of excessive force in the county.
“There has long been something of a disconnect between communities of color and law enforcement. Unfortunately, many of us don’t believe that law enforcement is actually there to serve and protect,” said Bailey.
In 2020, the death of Robert Fuller, a 24-year-old black man found hanging from a tree in June in Palmdale, California, it was a suicide, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said. Police said that following an investigation, “the medical examiner released his final autopsy report and turned it over to the sheriff’s department and ruled it a suicide.”
Marvin Long, a 57-year-old black man and lifelong resident of Colbert County, knew Dennoriss Richardson’s family well growing up. He shares skepticism about the suicide ruling and said Richardson’s death intensified his fear of retaliation.
“To this day, I hate seeing a police car,” Long said. “I’m more scared than ever.”
Long sued Sheffield police last year. After inquiring about an unrelated arrest that took place just outside his property in 2021, body camera footage appears to show officers following Long to his house, dragging him down his porch steps and throwing the police K9 at him as he screamed for help. Long was unarmed, according to the complaint.
Richardson and Long are among five Black and Latino men represented by civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel who have filed lawsuits against the department in recent years.
“Citizens live in fear of retaliation,” Van Daniel said.
In one case, an off-duty Sheffield police officer was caught on surveillance footage punching and shooting a black man at a liquor store. The officer was later found guilty of assault, menacing and inadvertent endangerment. He was fired from the department.
In another lawsuit, a 57-year-old chiropractor claims he was shocked 18 times with a Taser while handcuffed after asking a police officer for help finding his wife’s iPhone. Photos included in the suit show several large burn marks believed to be from the assault.
The Sheffield Police Department did not respond to numerous phone calls and emails seeking comment. Lawyers for the officers named in the current lawsuits did not respond to emails.
Balentine, sheriff since 2023, declined to comment on specific cases. But he said that based on his nearly 30 years as an officer in the area, he believes Colbert County residents generally trust law enforcement.
“If it’s proven to be excessive, then I’m sure there will be accountability,” he said.
Balentine nonetheless said he hoped the FBI investigation would help allay concerns.
“Transparency is always a good way to mend some fences with the community,” he said.
Leigh Richardson had known her husband since she was 17 years old. She remembers Dennoriss, affectionately known as “Na-Na,” as a warm father to their five children. But she also said her fear of police is not new.
“He was scared at that young age,” Richardson said.
Richardson said that after filing a lawsuit, her husband was frequently stopped by police. During those months, he “tried to stay away,” she said.
Sheffield Mayor Steve Stanley said Dennoriss Richardson came to his office at least once to express concerns about his profiling. Stanley said he assured Richardson that any officer reported through official channels would be investigated.
The Sheffield Police Department would not confirm if or how often the department arrested Richardson.
Court records show that Dennoriss Richardson had a long history of run-ins with local law enforcement, but the majority of charges filed in federal and state courts did not stick.
Dennoriss Richardson pleaded guilty to drug possession in 2006 and was sentenced to five years in prison. For more than 15 years, court records show Richardson has been arrested at least six additional times by Sheffield police, on charges ranging from disturbing the peace, robbery and assault.
None of those charges, except for a traffic violation for expired tags, resulted in a conviction, according to available court records.
The same week that Richardson filed a lawsuit against the department, he was charged with trafficking methamphetamine. He was arrested at a house where drugs were allegedly found. Richardson was out on bond when he died.
Stanley said he strongly supports holding officers accountable for their misconduct, but stressed his great confidence in them.
“I have preached and I believe that at least the majority of officers recognize that everyone deserves respect,” Stanley said.
Yet amid the looming investigation, uncertainty reigns within the community.
In early October, Richardson’s friends and family filled the pews at the small Trinity Memorial Funeral Home to commemorate his life. The songs and sermons were punctuated with calls for justice.
From the pulpit, Van Daniel, Richardson’s attorney, said Richardson “believed in transparency and accountability. He spoke out against police misconduct.”
There was a constant chorus of “amens” from the crowd as Van Daniel spoke.
“Her family and the Sheffield community deserve answers,” he said. “We deserve answers.”
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, you can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis lifeline by calling or texting 988. You can also chat with the 988 Suicide lifeline & Crisis here.
For more information about mental health care resources and support, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or by email at info@nami.org.
