Family of Rasheem Carter alleges foul play in his death; hires Benjamin Crump

A press conference by the family of Rasheem Carter was held at 4 p.m. in Jackson.

Joining them was their attorney, Benjamin Crump. Crump specializes in civil rights and catastrophic personal injury cases including wrongful death lawsuits. Most notably Crump leads the George Floyd family’s legal team.

Carter was reported missing in early October of 2022. His dismembered and decayed body was found with the help of cadaver dogs a month or so later in a pine tree plantation near the town where he was last seen alive.

Protesters at the Rasheem Carter press conference. Photo by Keith Phillips

You can read the original Vicksburg Daily News story on the missing Rasheem Carter including conversations with the family, the Sheriff and others by clicking this link.

“He knew his killers” – Mom

Carter’s mom believes her son was killed and knew his killers. Some family members allege his employer was involved and others think Carter was killed over a relationship with a local girl. In our original story on Carter’s death, according to the family, the Smith County Sheriff stated there is no indication of foul play in Carter’s death.

In today’s press conference, new information was revealed to the public including a text from Rasheem to his mom, Tiffany Carter, just before he was reported missing. The text said, “Me and the owner of this company are not seeing eye to eye but if anything happens to me he is responsible for it. I’m too smart mama he got these guys wanting to kill me.”  

Attorney Crump went on to say, “We know there are clues to this murder/mystery and we need the highest levels of law enforcement to administer justice for Rasheem Carter.”

Crump then went into detail about the condition of Rasheem Carter’s body when he was found, specifically that Rasheem’s head was dismembered from his body, his spinal cord was separated from his head, and other parts of his body are still missing.

Carter’s body was found in a wooded area after lying there for almost a month.

Watch the full press conference below:

You can watch the full press conference here:

Photo of Resheem Carter’s remains

Before his death, Rasheem visited the Taylorsville Police Department where, according to his family, he received no help. “He asked for help but they did not help him,” Tiffany said. Crump went on the state “since they failed to act, what we have now is a Mississippi lynching in 2022.”

Ben Crump with Rasheem Carter’s family: Photo by Keith Phillips

“He went to the police,” Crump said. They should’ve tried to track down who was in those trucks and see if they were a part of the Lynch mob who ended up doing this to Rasheem.”

Family members, supporters, and supporting groups stood in front of the United States Courthouse demanding justice for Rasheem. “How can it not be foul play when his body was dismembered,” Jefferson County Coroner Rick McDonald said. We just want justice for Rasheem Carter because he will not rest in peace until those who took his life are behind bars.”

VDN reached out to Smith County Sheriff Joel Houston prior to the press conference earlier this month and he failed to return our call. Smith County Coroner Sammy Houston refused to comment on the case.

The Carter family is represented by Benjamin Crump, Carlos Moore and Charles O’Neal.

David Day assisted in the publication of this story.