In a shocking and heartbreaking story out of Jackson, Mississippi, a grieving mother has finally learned the fate of her missing son, Dexter Wade, 172 days after he was reported missing. Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba offered an apology to the Wade family during his State of the City speech, acknowledging the tragic circumstances surrounding Dexter's death and the failures that led to the family not being notified in a timely manner.

Dexter Wade was struck and killed by an off-duty police officer in his cruiser on March 5. Despite his family's relentless search for him, it wasn't until August 24 that they received the devastating news. They had spent months driving through local neighborhoods, appealing for help on social media, and desperately seeking any information about Dexter's whereabouts.

Mayor Lumumba attributed the communication breakdown to a lack of coordination between the missing persons division, the coroner's office, and accident investigations. He expressed deep regret for the additional trauma inflicted on the Wade family by not being able to give their son a proper burial. The family was left with no choice but to bury Dexter in a grave for the unknown at a penal farm.

Bettersten Wade, Dexter's mother, expressed her dissatisfaction with the mayor's speech, demanding more details and answers about what went wrong. She questioned why she wasn't informed in person about her son's death and why the correct phone number was not used to contact her. Bettersten insisted that a knock on the door would have been more appropriate and accused the city officials of neglecting their duty.

The circumstances surrounding Dexter Wade's death are equally troubling. He was struck by an off-duty corporal driving a police SUV as he walked across a six-lane highway. The officer, who remains unnamed, immediately alerted the Jackson Police Department. The officer was not suspected of being under the influence of drugs and was not subjected to a sobriety test or cited for any violations.

The coroner's investigators were able to identify Dexter using a bottle of prescription pills found on his person. They then obtained his mother's phone number from the medical facility that prescribed the medication. However, despite having the deceased man's identity known to officials, there was a failure to connect the missing person with the unclaimed remains at the morgue. As a result, Dexter's body was buried at the Hinds County penal farm in July.

Bettersten Wade was only able to visit her son's grave in October, marked only by a number. She is now seeking to raise funds to have his body exhumed and transferred to a proper gravesite. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, known for his work on cases involving police misconduct, is representing the family and has vowed to fight for justice and accountability.

This tragedy is not the first interaction the Wade family has had with the Jackson Police Department. In 2019, Bettersten's brother was killed when a police officer slammed him to the ground. The officer was later convicted of manslaughter and is currently appealing the case.

The shocking revelations in this case have sparked outrage and demands for answers. The mayor's apology and admission of mistakes have done little to quell the anger and grief. The community and the country as a whole are left grappling with the heartbreaking reality that Dexter Wade's life was tragically cut short, and his family was denied the opportunity to give him a proper farewell. The search for the truth and justice continues as the Wade family seeks closure and accountability for this devastating loss.