In a shocking incident, a Black man in Mississippi, Dexter Wade, died after being struck by a police SUV and was buried in a pauper's cemetery without his family's knowledge. The incident occurred on March 5 when Wade was hit by an off-duty Jackson Police Department officer while crossing Interstate 55 in Jackson, according to authorities. However, Wade's family, who filed a missing person's report just days after they last saw him on March 5, claim that it took local officials until August to notify them of his death.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing the family, revealed that Wade's body was exhumed earlier this week, and shocking details emerged when a wallet was found in the pocket of the jeans he had been buried in. The wallet contained Wade's state identification card with his home address, his credit card, and a health insurance card. Crump argues that the presence of these identifying items indicates a concerted effort to hide the truth and manner of Wade's death from his family.

Wade's mother, Bettersten Wade, expressed her frustration, questioning why local officials did not use the information in the wallet to inform her of her son's death and allow her to see him before his burial. "If they had a wallet and knew where his address was, why didn't they just visit his address when he was laying out on the freeway and come get me so I could have seen my son?" she exclaimed.

Further investigation into Wade's death was conducted by Dr. Frank Peretti at the family's request. The independent autopsy revealed that Wade had suffered multiple blunt force injuries, including the amputation of his left leg. Shockingly, his body had not been embalmed before burial, according to Peretti.

The Hinds County coroner's office claimed to have called a number listed for Wade's mother at the time, but they did not receive a response. However, Wade's mother vehemently denies ever receiving such a call. Moreover, Crump asserts that the coroner's office instructed the Jackson Police Department on multiple occasions to contact Wade's mother, indicating a breakdown in communication.

City officials, including Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba, have insisted that the communication breakdown was accidental and that there was no malicious intent. Lumumba stated, "The accident was investigated, and it was determined that it was, in fact, an accident and that there was no malicious intent."

Crump and Representative Bennie Thompson have called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate Wade's death. Their aim is to ensure transparency and hold accountable those responsible for the mishandling of the case. However, both the Jackson Police Department and the Hinds County Coroner's Office have yet to comment on the matter.

The shocking incident has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about the treatment of Black individuals involved in police-related accidents. The family and their attorney are determined to seek justice for Dexter Wade and shed light on the systemic issues that may have contributed to the mishandling of his case.