Contested death (2000 to present)

Rodney Thompson

OpenOn or about Nov. 18, 2009 · Age 40 · Memphis, TN

Who Rodney was

Rodney "Party Pack" Thompson was a graduate of Booker T. Washington, according to his obituary in The Commercial Appeal.

He was survived by his daughter, Rodneshia Thompson, his mother, Maxine Ann Thompson, three sisters and four brothers, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

What happened

Rodney Thompson, 40, died on Nov. 18, 2009, according to his obituary. Neighbors on Cohasset Cove in southeast Memphis found him in the backyard of his home and called authorities.

Memphis police first described Rodney's death as a suicide. By Nov. 20, police said foul play could be involved, released few other details, and said only that the investigation was ongoing (WMC Action News 5). His family held his funeral at N.J. Ford Funeral Home in Memphis the following week.

No medical examiner ruling, charges or later police update has been reported publicly. In March 2026, JULIAN's "A Crimson Record" report on Black deaths in the South since 2000 cited his case, and Axios noted that his death had first been called a suicide. Memphis authorities didn't respond to Axios's request for comment, and the case stands where police left it in 2009.

The case

Where found: Tree in the backyard of his home in southeast Memphis
Official finding: Pending. Memphis police first called the death a suicide, then said foul play could be involved and that the investigation was ongoing (WMC Action News 5, Nov. 20, 2009). No medical examiner ruling has been reported publicly.
Investigation: Memphis Police Department. Neighbors on Cohasset Cove found him and called authorities. Police released few details beyond saying the investigation was ongoing. No later update has been found.
Family position: Not publicly stated.
Public evidence: The case drew renewed attention in March 2026, when JULIAN's "A Crimson Record" report on Black deaths in the South since 2000 cited it, and Axios reported that his death was initially described as a suicide.
Federal review: None reported
Last verified: 2026-11-14

Verification note: The date he was found hasn't been reported. His Commercial Appeal obituary gives Nov. 18, 2009 as his date of death; WMC Action News 5 reported the death on Nov. 20, 2009. The 2009 coverage doesn't state his race; his case is included in JULIAN's 2026 study of Black deaths, as reported by Axios. Police withdrew their initial suicide statement, and no ruling has been made public.

Sources

Record history

Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Verification note: The date he was found hasn't been reported. His Commercial Appeal obituary gives Nov. 18, 2009 as his date of death; WMC Action News 5 reported the death on Nov. 20, 2009. The 2009 coverage doesn't state his race; his case is included in JULIAN's 2026 study of Black deaths, as reported by Axios. Police withdrew their initial suicide statement, and no ruling has been made public.
Oct 28, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Rodney Thompson
- Age: 40
- Date found: 2009-11-18
- Date label if approximate: On or about Nov. 18, 2009
- City or county: Memphis
- State: TN
- Life updated
- Life sources updated
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
- Where found: Tree in the backyard of his home in southeast Memphis
- Official finding: Pending. Memphis police first called the death a suicide, then said foul play could be involved and that the investigation was ongoing (WMC Action News 5, Nov. 20, 2009). No medical examiner ruling has been reported publicly.
- Investigation: Memphis Police Department. Neighbors on Cohasset Cove found him and called authorities. Police released few details beyond saying the investigation was ongoing. No later update has been found.
- Family position: Not publicly stated.
- Public evidence: The case drew renewed attention in March 2026, when JULIAN's "A Crimson Record" report on Black deaths in the South since 2000 cited it, and Axios reported that his death was initially described as a suicide.
- Federal review: None reported
- Verification note: Date found isn't stated in the coverage found. His Commercial Appeal obituary gives Nov. 18, 2009 as his date of death; WMC Action News 5 reported the death on Nov. 20, 2009. Race isn't stated in the 2009 coverage; his inclusion rests on Axios's March 2026 report on JULIAN's study of Black deaths. WMC also printed an unverified claim from an unnamed source about the cause of death; it's left out here. Status is open because police walked back their initial suicide statement and no ruling has been found.
- Sources updated