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Contested death (2000 to present)

Dennoriss Richardson

Ruled suicide, disputedSep 28, 2024 · Age 39 · Colbert County, AL

Who Dennoriss was

Dennoriss Richardson was 39 and lived in Sheffield, Alabama, where he was the father of five children. Family and friends called him NaNa, and marchers in the Shoals carried signs reading "Justice for NaNa."

He coached kids' baseball and football for 14 years and was close to many people in the Sheffield community. His youngest son played football there.

His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, calls him a wonderful man who was very spiritual and a great father, someone friends and family went to for solid advice. His mother, Bonita Richardson, remembers him as joyful.

Portrait of Dennoriss Richardson
Courtesy of Dennoriss Richardson Family · where it was shared

In the words of those who knew them

  • “He was a wonderful man.”His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, to ABC News · source
  • “He was very spiritual and he was a great father.”His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, to ABC News · source
  • “My son was joyful.”His mother, Bonita Richardson · source

What happened

Dennoriss Richardson, 39, of Sheffield, Alabama, was found on Sept. 28, 2024, at the carport of an abandoned house off U.S. 72 in rural Colbert County, miles from his home. Colbert County sheriff's deputies found him while responding to a call about a suspicious vehicle, the Equal Justice Initiative reported. In February he'd filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheffield police officers over his treatment during a 2022 jail detention. That same week he was charged with drug trafficking, and he was out on bond when he died. His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, said officers had told him the charge would be dropped if he dropped the suit.

Sheriff Eric Balentine ruled the death a suicide. Leigh Ann said it "was made to look like a suicide" and that the remote house was somewhere he had no reason to go. At Balentine's request, the FBI's Birmingham field office agreed to review the case, as reported in early November 2024. On Nov. 23, more than 100 people marched from Sheffield City Hall to the Colbert County Courthouse in Tuscumbia carrying "Justice for NaNa" signs.

The final state autopsy, reported Jan. 2, 2025, also found suicide. A private autopsy commissioned by the family found no definitive evidence of suicide, ABC News reported, and family attorney Roderick Van Daniel questioned why the private examiner wasn't given the scene photos. The lawsuit is moving forward with Leigh Ann substituted as the plaintiff. No result of the FBI review has been made public.

The case

Where found
Abandoned house
Official finding
Suicide (final state autopsy, confirmed by the Colbert County Sheriff, Jan 2, 2025)
Time to finding
About four months from discovery to the final state autopsy ruling
Investigation
Colbert County Sheriff's Office ruled it a suicide. Before his death he had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheffield police officers. At the sheriff's request, the FBI opened a review in November 2024.
Family position
His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, says his death was made to look like a suicide. Attorney Roderick Van Daniel represents the family.
Public evidence
Private autopsy commissioned by family found no definitive evidence of suicide and reported the hyoid bone missing from the body.
Federal review
FBI review opened at the sheriff's request (Nov 2024); no public result found. In an Oct 5, 2026 letter to congressional leaders, the Southern Poverty Law Center said the family's attorney reported earlier in 2026 that the family had heard nothing recently and didn't know the status of the FBI investigation. Named in Pressley letter to DOJ/FBI (Sept 2026) and in SPLC letters to congressional leaders and UN human rights officials (Oct 5, 2026).
Last verified
2026-11-14
Verification note: EJI, NNPA and WAFF say he was found Sept 28, 2024. One local report places his last call with his wife on Sept 29.

Sources

Record history

  1. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Federal review: FBI review opened at the sheriff's request (Nov 2024); no public result found. In an Oct 5, 2026 letter to congressional leaders, the Southern Poverty Law Center said the family's attorney reported earlier in 2026 that the family had heard nothing recently and didn't know the status of the FBI investigation. Named in Pressley letter to DOJ/FBI (Sept 2026) and in SPLC letters to congressional leaders and UN human rights officials (Oct 5, 2026).
  2. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Date found: 2024-09-28
    • Date label if approximate: Blank
    • Verification note: EJI, NNPA and WAFF say he was found Sept 28, 2024. One local report places his last call with his wife on Sept 29.
  3. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
  4. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Portrait added (Courtesy of Dennoriss Richardson Family)
  5. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Official finding: Suicide (final state autopsy, confirmed by the Colbert County Sheriff, Jan 2, 2025)
    • Time to finding: About four months from discovery to the final state autopsy ruling
    • Investigation: Colbert County Sheriff's Office ruled it a suicide. Before his death he had filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Sheffield police officers. At the sheriff's request, the FBI opened a review in November 2024.
    • Family position: His widow, Leigh Ann Richardson, says his death was made to look like a suicide. Attorney Roderick Van Daniel represents the family.
    • Federal review: FBI review opened at the sheriff's request (Nov 2024); no public result found. Named in Pressley letter to DOJ/FBI (Sept 2026).
  6. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  7. Oct 15, 2026 · Initial record
    Initial record from prototype research