Contested death (2000 to present)

Jesse Earl Hubbard

Ruled suicide, disputedMar 4, 2006 · Age 50 · Moss Point, MS

What happened

Jesse Earl Hubbard was arrested by Moss Point police on Saturday, March 4, 2006, on charges of disorderly conduct and public intoxication. Later that day he was found dead in a cell at the city jail. The Jackson County coroner ruled his death a suicide, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation opened an inquiry.

Jesse's family rejected the ruling. His wife, Marylin Hubbard, told WLOX he "loved life too much." His daughter accused police of prejudice and said some officers should be removed. At the family's request, the Jackson County NAACP opened its own investigation.

The family hired attorney Benjamin Crump, who arranged a second autopsy. Preliminary findings reported that month showed marks on Jesse's wrists and neck. Crump asked to see the jail's surveillance video, and the city said its procedure did not allow the tape to be released to a private citizen. In May, the NAACP said it had evidence the death was not a suicide and witnesses who could describe officers' conduct toward Jesse. The family later filed a civil lawsuit.

On July 30, 2006, a second man died in the same jail, and his death was also ruled a suicide. In August the two families together called for accountability. No public report on the outcome of the state investigation or the lawsuit was found, and the suicide ruling stands.

The case

Where found: A cell in the Moss Point city jail, hours after his arrest by Moss Point police the same day
Official finding: Suicide (Jackson County coroner, reported by WLOX March 7, 2006)
Time to finding: Within three days
Investigation: The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated and was still investigating as of March 21, 2006. At the family's request, the Jackson County NAACP opened its own investigation. No public report of the state investigation's conclusion was found.
Family position: The family rejects the suicide ruling. His wife, Marylin Hubbard, told WLOX he "loved life too much." His daughter, Nicole Magee, accused Moss Point police of prejudice and said some officers should be removed. The family hired attorney Benjamin Crump and filed a civil lawsuit.
Public evidence: A second autopsy arranged by the family's attorney reported marks on his wrists and neck (preliminary findings, WLOX, March 21, 2006); the attorney said the wrist marks suggested handcuffs. The city declined to release jail surveillance video to the family's attorney, citing procedure. In May 2006 the Jackson County NAACP said it had evidence the death was not a suicide and witnesses to inappropriate conduct by some officers. A second man died in the same jail on July 30, 2006, also ruled a suicide; AP reported no jailer was on duty that night.
Federal review: None reported for this death. AP (via the Picayune Item) reported FBI involvement in the July 2006 death of a second inmate in the same jail.
Last verified: 2026-11-14

Verification note: Sources differ on his age: the Picayune Item (AP, Aug. 2, 2006) says 50; WLOX (May 3, 2006) says 51. WLOX's May 3 report spells his first name "Jessie." His wife's name appears as both "Marilyn" and "Marylin" in WLOX reports. No outcome of the state investigation or the civil suit has been made public.

Sources

Record history

Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Verification note: Sources differ on his age: the Picayune Item (AP, Aug. 2, 2006) says 50; WLOX (May 3, 2006) says 51. WLOX's May 3 report spells his first name "Jessie." His wife's name appears as both "Marilyn" and "Marylin" in WLOX reports. No outcome of the state investigation or the civil suit has been made public.
- Sources updated
Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Jesse Earl Hubbard
- Age: 50
- Date found: 2006-03-04
- City or county: Moss Point
- State: MS
- Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
- Where found: A cell in the Moss Point city jail, hours after his arrest by Moss Point police the same day
- Official finding: Suicide (Jackson County coroner, reported by WLOX March 7, 2006)
- Time to finding: Within three days
- Investigation: The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated and was still investigating as of March 21, 2006. At the family's request, the Jackson County NAACP opened its own investigation. No public report of the state investigation's conclusion was found.
- Family position: The family rejects the suicide ruling. His wife, Marylin Hubbard, told WLOX he "loved life too much." His daughter, Nicole Magee, accused Moss Point police of prejudice and said some officers should be removed. The family hired attorney Benjamin Crump and filed a civil lawsuit.
- Public evidence: A second autopsy arranged by the family's attorney reported marks on his wrists and neck (preliminary findings, WLOX, March 21, 2006); the attorney said the wrist marks suggested handcuffs. The city declined to release jail surveillance video to the family's attorney, citing procedure. In May 2006 the Jackson County NAACP said it had evidence the death was not a suicide and witnesses to inappropriate conduct by some officers. A second man died in the same jail on July 30, 2006, also ruled a suicide; AP reported no jailer was on duty that night.
- Federal review: None reported for this death. AP (via the Picayune Item) reported FBI involvement in the July 2006 death of a second inmate in the same jail.
- Verification note: RACE NOT CONFIRMED: none of the sources opened states his race. Confirm he was Black before approving; reject if that can't be confirmed. Age: the Picayune Item (AP, Aug. 2, 2006) says 50; WLOX (May 3, 2006) says 51. WLOX's May 3 report spells his first name 'Jessie'. His wife's name appears as 'Marilyn' in WLOX's March 7 report and 'Marylin' in later WLOX reports. Outcomes of the state investigation and the civil suit were not found.
- Sources updated