AL.com: “A Black man found dead at an abandoned house in Colbert County last month had earlier this year filed a federal lawsuit against Sheffield police officers alleging police brutality.
Dennoriss Richardson, 39, of Sheffield, was found hanging by a rope on Sept. 28, said civil rights attorney Roderick Van Daniel, who represented Richardson in the federal lawsuit.
U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona said she was not familiar with the case. “We can’t deny or confirm the existence of any investigation,” said FBI Public Affairs Specialist Toni Herrera-Bast.
Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said his office has investigated and ruled the death a suicide.
“We received a call of a suspicious vehicle at a residence on Highway 72, on the west side of Colbert County,” Balentine said. “When our deputies go down to investigate the suspicious vehicle, they located Mr. Richardson. He was hanging from a beam on the carport.”
Richardson’s wife, Leigh Ann Richardson, said she is absolutely convinced it was not a suicide.”