I want to revive this thread because I am still so confused as to whether he was ID’d.
I’ve recently found that the man who hit him was charged with aggravated assault and DUI refusal. The UID was actually hit on December 12th, 1998. The man that hit him was charged in feb 1999, but in 2004 (yes, you’re reading that right), the case was dismissed due to lack of a speedy trial. In that court petition, it states the UID was deceased from causes not related to the accident.
Also, on my journey, I found that the man who hit him was tied to the “conservatorship for Steve hecks/Steve hex” (it was listed both ways) which was appointed to Wayne Smith who was the chancery court clerk in Forrest county (Hattiesburg, ms) at that time. He has since retired.
The original article (of him being hit) was published in the Hattiesburg American on Dec 13, 1998. He was hit on the afternoon of Dec 12. Two days after the accident, the newspapers posted the name of Michael curry as the victim. There is absolutely nothing after that date posted in newspapers.
I was in Hattiesburg when this happened. I now live in bay St. Louis (and grew up here) so this case is near and dear to my heart.
A few things I find odd…his DOD was May 1, 2002. This is the date that Hotel Reed closed for good and all patients was transferred elsewhere. Was he transferred also?
Also, the man that hit this UID was the father of a woman who was vying for Miss America during this same month…was this covered up because of this? She was Miss Mississippi at the time of the hit and run.