AR - Dexter Williams, 24, found dead in hot tub with TV weatherman, 5 Sept 2011

[Snick1946]

This reminds me of the quote from former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards, when he learned he was facing a runoff against David Duke:

"The only way I can lose is if they catch me in bed with a dead woman or a live boy."

This guy got caught with a dead man, not sure what was going on and not sure I want to know..

 

[wfgodot]

File under Meteorolgists, Mysterious Deaths or Events Involving Area

KC MO - Suicide of popular meteorologist stuns colleagues, viewers (new WS thread)

 

[tezi]

Prosecuting Attorney Will Not File Criminal Charges in Dexter Williams Case

Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley said today that his office will not file criminal charges in the death of Dexter Williams.

~~~SNIP~~~

A medical examiner says Williams died from asphyxia, or lack of oxygen, combined with methamphetamine and amphetamine intoxication.

http://www.katv.com/story/16464874/no-charges-filed-in

 

[HastingsChi]

All I can say is that Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley is the dumbest person on the planet... I am shocked beyond words that no charges are being filed in a death that was so clearly covered up by Cummins and Barbour... I'm baffled...

 

[wfgodot]

Completely unshocked here. Would have dragged KARK's name into the news. They can't have that.

 

[Nova]

I can't speak for Arkansas, but it used to be true in New York and California that the deaths of gay people just weren't high priority. It was assumed our "lifestyles" were high risk and not worth a lot of police time. (I don't think that's true nowadays in large coastal cities.)

But it also may be that after careful investigation the death seems the product of consensual use of illegal drugs. Unless LE can prove who gave him the drugs, there may not be a way to charge. Yes, it seems the survivors tampered with the crime scene, but whether that's worth using resources to prosecute might depend on whether LE believes there is a more serious, underlying crime.

It seems to me, however, that the cause of the "asphyxia" should be released, at the very least.

(Thanks, Tezi, for the update.)

 

[STEADFAST]

The citizens of Arkansas have the right to know exactly how it transpired that this young man died.

I think (despite that fact that Little Rock has just been named the 11th "gayest city in the U.S". http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012...-necessarily-the-most-gay-friendly/?hpt=hp_c2) that there may be a pervading attitude that he was "asking for it" because he was gay. I'd be very surprised if the case would have been dropped had a 24-year-old woman been found dead in the company of a couple of older men.

 

[tezi]

All I can say is that Prosecuting Attorney Larry Jegley is the dumbest person on the planet... I am shocked beyond words that no charges are being filed in a death that was so clearly covered up by Cummins and Barbour... I'm baffled...

I was thinking that "obstruction of justice" or "tampering with evidence" charges would have been filed. I am shocked that at the very least these were NOT filed.

Completely unshocked here. Would have dragged KARK's name into the news. They can't have that.

I am sure that was a factor in the decision NOT to file charges. And now Cummins can get a new stage name and go to work in some other unsuspecting market.

I can't speak for Arkansas, but it used to be true in New York and California that the deaths of gay people just weren't high priority. It was assumed our "lifestyles" were high risk and not worth a lot of police time. (I don't think that's true nowadays in large coastal cities.)

But it also may be that after careful investigation the death seems the product of consensual use of illegal drugs. Unless LE can prove who gave him the drugs, there may not be a way to charge. Yes, it seems the survivors tampered with the crime scene, but whether that's worth using resources to prosecute might depend on whether LE believes there is a more serious, underlying crime.

It seems to me, however, that the cause of the "asphyxia" should be released, at the very least.

(Thanks, Tezi, for the update.)

RBBM: I wish that they would release that also, along with the tox screen. I am most interested in knowing what the levels of drugs and alcohol are in this case.

 

[Nova]

The citizens of Arkansas have the right to know exactly how it transpired that this young man died.

I think (despite that fact that Little Rock has just been named the 11th "gayest city in the U.S". http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012...-necessarily-the-most-gay-friendly/?hpt=hp_c2) that there may be a pervading attitude that he was "asking for it" because he was gay. I'd be very surprised if the case would have been dropped had a 24-year-old woman been found dead in the company of a couple of older men.

I'm not quarreling with your conclusion, Steadfast, but I don't know how The Advocate decided Little Rock was 12th gayest. Per the U.S. census, it ranks 392nd in terms of the number of households headed by gay couples.

I think the Advocate survey was an attempt to spotlight gay communities in states normally assumed to be hostile to gay people. The order of cities was partially subjective and determined by the editors.

The disinterest in prosecuting may result from the sexuality of the participants, but it also might just reflect the illegal drug usage, a sort of "they were asking for it" attitude.

 

[Trvl4Lyfe]

Sometimes it seems for something to be done, it needs the media's attention. The squeaky wheel gets greased. :twocents:

 

[wfgodot]

And, meanwhile keeping up with the shenanigans of U.S. television weathermen, we now find, in the Daily Mail....

Curtain finally falls on the wild man of weather forecasting: Philadelphia
meteorologist axed from TV gig after extraordinary 'Hangover'-style exploits

 

[Nova]

Why should a weather man's personal life matter to me? Are meteorologists supposed to be role models now?

(I'm not talking about the Arkansas case. Obviously, I think that's interesting in its own right.)

 

[mysteriew]

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/justice/arkansas-weatherman-hot-tub/index.html?iref=obinsite

Man found in hot tub with Arkansas weatherman asphyxiated
From Joe Sutton, CNN
updated 9:38 PM EST, Thu September 22, 2011

Maumelle, Arkansas (CNN) -- A man whose naked body was found next to a sleeping TV weatherman in an unfilled tub earlier this month died from asphyxiation, authorities said Thursday, but there was "no indication" he was strangled.

Maumelle, Arkansas, police Lt. Jim Hansard noted that the medical examiner cited other contributing factors in 24-year-old Dexter Williams' death, including intoxication with methamphetamine and amphetamines.

Police said the investigation remains open and there is "no indication (from the medical examiner) in any way that there was a strangulation,' and the manner of death remains 'undetermined."...

I wonder if there was any internal throat trauma?

 

[HastingsChi]

Got an email from Mr Williams yesterday letting me know that the family has filed a wrongful death suit to hopefully get justice for Dexter's passing way too soon. He asked me to keep the family and Dexter's memory in my thoughts and prayers; I hope all of you might do the same.

I've been corresponding with Mr Williams for a few months and I cannot tell you how much he and his family appreciate what has been written on this thread. Mr Williams is a man who really loved and misses his son.

I pray that those involved will be held responsible for contributing to Dexter's death.

 

[HastingsChi]

Here is an Associated Press article about the lawsuit:

Parents of man found in hot tub sue over his death
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Parents-of-man-found-in-hot-tub-sue-over-his-death-3835130.php

 

[tezi]

Got an email from Mr Williams yesterday letting me know that the family has filed a wrongful death suit to hopefully get justice for Dexter's passing way too soon. He asked me to keep the family and Dexter's memory in my thoughts and prayers; I hope all of you might do the same.

I've been corresponding with Mr Williams for a few months and I cannot tell you how much he and his family appreciate what has been written on this thread. Mr Williams is a man who really loved and misses his son.

I pray that those involved will be held responsible for contributing to Dexter's death.

RBBM: I hope so too Hastings. I still think criminal charges should ave been brought against the other two there for obstruction of justice at the very least.

I think it is very nice of you to be in touch with Dexter's family. We do care what has happened to Dexter and LE's lack of caring.

JMO, IMO, :moo:, and all other disclamers.

PS: Does anyone know if Brett Cummins is working in some other TV market?

 

[HoneyWest]

Got an email from Mr Williams yesterday letting me know that the family has filed a wrongful death suit to hopefully get justice for Dexter's passing way too soon. He asked me to keep the family and Dexter's memory in my thoughts and prayers; I hope all of you might do the same.

I've been corresponding with Mr Williams for a few months and I cannot tell you how much he and his family appreciate what has been written on this thread. Mr Williams is a man who really loved and misses his son.

I pray that those involved will be held responsible for contributing to Dexter's death.

I think you are a love for corresponding with Dexter's family. Any parent who loses a child so young deserves comfort and support, regardless of the circumstances. I fully support their decision to file the suit!

I also have to wonder...would the initial investigation turned out differently if Dexter had been a young woman? Would culpability have been found?

Wishing the Williams family good luck with the suit. I also hope they know they do have many people's condolences and support.

 

[HastingsChi]

RBBM: I hope so too Hastings. I still think criminal charges should ave been brought against the other two there for obstruction of justice at the very least.

I think it is very nice of you to be in touch with Dexter's family. We do care what has happened to Dexter and LE's lack of caring.

JMO, IMO, :moo:, and all other disclamers.

PS: Does anyone know if Brett Cummins is working in some other TV market?

Tezi nice to hear from you! I hope you are well

Surprisingly, Mr Williams reached out to me months ago after being so moved by the thoughtful things we were posting here.

I began corresponding with him a few months ago and I must say he is one of the nicest people on the planet and I feel awful for his loss.

I shared similar sentiments that you've expressed with Mr Williams (as I feel the same way as you T). I told him that I and many others were baffled that no one was charged with even the most minor things in relation to this.

I knew the lawsuit was imminent a few months ago and hope/pray that the truth will come out (that we've all speculated about) and those who found it more important to clean up and flee the scene rather than try to help Dexter will be held liable.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

I just read through this thread and I was curious if there was ever an update on the lawsuit filed by Dexter's family?

 

[silverkitty]

I just read through this thread and I was curious if there was ever an update on the lawsuit filed by Dexter's family?

http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/art...n-acquaintances-brett-cummins-dexter-williams

The police file was closed in 2012 with no charges, death ruled *not* a homicide. I'm not sure a lawsuit could proceed without some stated evidence of wrongdoing, but I'm not a legal expert so maybe I'm incorrect.

Unfortunately, this young man was an adult who chose to (ab)use the hardcore combination of drugs that most likely led to his death. At what point do our choices become someone else's responsibility? Is it only when the outcome is costly/embarrassing/tragic? I feel awful for the family, but I'm a proponent of owning the things we (and the people we love) do, good or bad, right or wrong.

I personally think it likely that he died from positional asphyxiation after passing out following days of partying. In any case, very sad.