The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama has requested the FBI to investigate the death of 39-year-old Dennoriss Richardson, whose body was found hanging in an abandoned home. The sheriff’s office ruled his death a suicide, but his wife, Leigh Ann Richardson, believes that his death was made to look like suicide. She stated that he had filed a federal lawsuit against the police in Sheffield accusing them of abusive behavior while he was detained in 2022. Richardson’s wife is demanding answers and does not believe he died by suicide.
Leigh Ann Richardson insisted that her husband’s death was not a suicide and that it was made to look that way. She mentioned that Dennoriss Richardson had given his son some of his jewelry because he believed he would be returning to prison to serve out a sentence. Despite claims by law enforcement that Richardson had been depressed, his wife maintains that he was not depressed at the time of his death. The sheriff’s office stated that an autopsy was conducted by the Department of Forensic Science in Huntsville, which confirmed the cause of death as suicide.
Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine reported that police spoke to other family members of Dennoriss Richardson who claimed he had been suffering from depression. However, Richardson’s wife remains adamant that he was not depressed at the time of his death. The FBI has not confirmed if they are involved in the investigation, stating that they review allegations of federal law violations seriously and will conduct further investigation if there is evidence of a potential violation of federal law. Richardson, who was a baseball and football coach, was found hanging by a rope on September 28 in an abandoned home.
The lawyer for the sheriff’s office has not responded to requests for comment on the case. Despite the sheriff’s office ruling his death a suicide, Richardson’s wife questions the circumstances surrounding his death and does not believe he took his own life. The FBI has accepted the request to look into the case, stating that the sheriff’s office had exhausted all resources in its investigation. Richardson’s wife is seeking justice for her husband and is determined to uncover the truth behind his death.
The FBI has acknowledged Dennoriss Richardson’s death but has not provided any further details on their involvement in the investigation. The sheriff’s office has requested their assistance in looking into the case, which has raised questions regarding the circumstances surrounding his death. Richardson’s wife’s insistence that his death was not a suicide has prompted further investigation by law enforcement agencies. The case remains unresolved as authorities continue to gather information and conduct investigations to determine the cause of Dennoriss Richardson’s death.
