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Contested death (2000 to present)

Willie Andrew Jones Jr.

Ruled suicide, disputedFeb 8, 2018 · Age 21 · Forest, MS

Who Willie was

Willie Andrew Jones Jr., called "Duke" by his family, was 21 and lived near Forest in Scott County, Mississippi. His mother is Tammie Townsend. He became a father in 2017.

His mother calls him a country boy. He loved dogs and chickens, and most of all his horse, Fancy, which he rode every day. He was a talented sketch artist, played high school football, and dreamed of becoming a supervisor on an oil pipeline.

His mother remembers that he was always smiling and would give you the shirt off his back. She keeps a collage of his photos and has pressed for accountability ever since.

Portrait of Willie Andrew Jones Jr.
Courtesy of JULIAN, civil rights counsel to the Jones family · where it was shared

In the words of those who knew them

  • “Would give you the shirt off his back.”His mother, Tammie Townsend · source
  • “I can't sleep, and I won't sleep until justice is served.”His mother, Tammie Townsend · source

What happened

On the night of Feb. 8, 2018, Willie Andrew Jones Jr., 21, argued with his girlfriend, the mother of his 3-month-old child, on the way to her family's home south of Forest in Scott County, Mississippi. He walked outside, and later that night a member of the household called 911 to report he was dead. He was found in a tree in the front yard. The Scott County sheriff said the death was consistent with suicide and that there was no evidence it was racially motivated. The state Bureau of Investigation and the FBI joined the case.

His family contacted the NAACP the day after his death. "I don't believe it. I'll never believe it," his mother told the Mississippi Free Press. A grand jury reviewed the evidence and declined to prosecute, and the district attorney told the AP, "If we had a reason to reopen it, we would do it without hesitation." The family sued a man at the home for wrongful death in December 2020, and in April 2021 a Hinds County judge awarded them about $11.4 million after he didn't respond. He told the AP he denies the allegations.

On April 10, 2024, the group JULIAN released an independent review by Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City chief medical examiner, concluding the manner of death was homicide, and asked the district attorney to file murder charges. JULIAN has called the death a lynching. No one has been charged, and the official suicide ruling stands.

The case

Where found
Tree near his girlfriend's home in Scott County
Official finding
Suicide (Scott County Sheriff's Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation). An independent medical examination by Dr. Michael Baden, former New York City chief medical examiner, requested by JULIAN in 2024, concluded the manner of death was homicide.
Investigation
Scott County Sheriff, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. A grand jury reviewed the evidence and declined to prosecute; the district attorney said he would reopen the case only with new evidence. In 2024 JULIAN asked the DA to file murder charges based on the independent examination.
Family position
His mother has never accepted the suicide ruling and wants someone held criminally responsible.
Public evidence
In a wrongful-death civil suit brought by the family, a Hinds County judge awarded relatives about $11.4 million in April 2021 after the defendant never responded. No criminal charges have been filed. Listed in JULIAN's 2026 Crimson Record.
Federal review
The FBI joined the investigation within about a week of the death.
Last verified
2026-10-18
Verification note: The civil judgment and JULIAN's materials name individuals who have never been criminally charged; this tracker doesn't name them.

Sources

Record history

  1. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
  2. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  3. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • Official finding: Suicide (Scott County Sheriff's Department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation). An independent medical examination by Dr. Michael Baden, former New York City chief medical examiner, requested by JULIAN in 2024, concluded the manner of death was homicide.
    • Time to finding: Blank
    • Investigation: Scott County Sheriff, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. A grand jury reviewed the evidence and declined to prosecute; the district attorney said he would reopen the case only with new evidence. In 2024 JULIAN asked the DA to file murder charges based on the independent examination.
    • Family position: His mother has never accepted the suicide ruling and wants someone held criminally responsible.
    • Public evidence: In a wrongful-death civil suit brought by the family, a Hinds County judge awarded relatives about $11.4 million in April 2021 after the defendant never responded. No criminal charges have been filed. Listed in JULIAN's 2026 Crimson Record.
    • Federal review: The FBI joined the investigation within about a week of the death.
    • Verification note: The civil judgment and JULIAN's materials name individuals who have never been criminally charged; this tracker doesn't name them.
  4. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Portrait added (Courtesy of JULIAN, civil rights counsel to the Jones family)
  5. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Willie Andrew Jones Jr.
    • Age: 21
    • Date found: 2018-02-08
    • City or county: Forest
    • State: MS
    • Where found: Tree near his girlfriend's home in Scott County
    • Official finding: No final ruling located. Scott County Sheriff said the death was consistent with suicide, with further autopsy results pending (CBS News/AP, Feb 2018).
    • Time to finding: No final finding located
    • Investigation: Scott County Sheriff's Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the FBI. A separate shooting into the girlfriend's house, with no injuries, was also under investigation.
    • Family position: Family doesn't believe he took his own life and contacted the local NAACP. The Mississippi NAACP called for a deeper investigation.
    • Public evidence: JULIAN's 2026 report says an independent medical examiner reached a conclusion contrary to suicide. That's an advocacy group's claim and hasn't been checked against an official record.
    • Federal review: FBI took part in the investigation (CBS News/AP).
    • Verification note: Status rests on the sheriff's preliminary February 2018 statement. No final medical examiner ruling located. The independent examination claim comes only from JULIAN.
    • Sources updated