MEMPHIS, Tenn. — “It’s been very frustrating. It’s been hard on the whole family,” said Frances Chambers.
She and her family have been in a lonely fight.
“We want justice for Demond,” she said.
It’s been a six-year struggle to get help and justice for her dead son, Demond Chambers.
“No one wanted to investigate this case. No one has been brought to justice in this case,” said Chambers.
Thirty-six-year-old Demond, mentally challenged, was found dead in a ditch in March 2009.
His mother said Marianna Police botched the case from the start.
“They did not investigate my son’s case although it was a suspicious death,” she said.
The family spent two days searching for Demond themselves before his brother found his body face down in a ditch not far from their home.
“I found my brother lying down here, Demond Chambers,” said Jason Chambers.
The condition of the body made them suspicious.
“His head was busted open. At the same time, one of his eyes was closed. His nose looked like it was broken. He had too many bruises on his body,” recalled Jason.
So they were stunned at the Arkansas Medical Examiner, Dr. Charles Kokes’, report.
It said Demond Chambers had superficial injuries, and it was unlikely trauma contributed to his death.
Despite what the family saw, the autopsy said there were no injuries on Demond’s torso.
His mom saw something else.
“On Demond’s stomach there was a long scar like someone had hit him across his stomach,” said his mom.
The autopsy also found no lower body injuries.
No tattoos or wrist scars.
“Across his hands there were letters there, like J.D. or W.J. I know if we saw them things then the Medical Examiner or Police saw those letters,” she said.
The first autopsy said Demond died of natural causes from a seizure.
“The first autopsy report did not put in there everything seen on Demond’s body,” said his mother. “I felt my son was murdered.”
The Chambers family hired a private investigator.
For three years, they looked into the case.
In 2012, Frances Chambers even had her son’s body exhumed for a second autopsy.
This one was done by the Dr. Matthias Okoye with the Nebraska Institute of Forensics.
He found something very different.
The second autopsy discovered blunt force trauma to Demond Chambers’ head, including contusions and swelling.
It said the trauma extended to his body and extremities.
“None of this was mentioned in the first autopsy. Not even that Demond had hemorrhaging,” said Frances Chambers.
Dr. Okoye said Demond Chambers’ death was from severe multiple blunt force trauma.
The manner of death: homicide.
He even wrote that the doctor in the first autopsy “knew the facts, saw the injuries, but never wrote them in his report, calling it completely tantamount to a cover-up and obstruction of justice.”
Vindication for the Chambers’ family, who was already suing the City of Marianna and police for failing to investigate the case.
“I want this case reopened and investigated as a homicide. I want justice. I want justice for Demond,” said Frances Chambers.
In January 2014, a letter from the Arkansas Supreme Court set that justice in motion.
The Court appointed a special judge to determine if a Grand Jury should be called in the Demond Chambers case.
Family supporters hope it will finally bring answers.
“They need an answer. They need justice so they can go on with their lives. Nobody should have to suffer like this,” said Odell Bryant, a supporter of the Chambers Family.
The case is being heard in Lee County Circuit Court, and the Nebraska doctor has been called to testify.
For the Chambers family, it’s a start.
“I am not gonna give up. I can’t give up on Desmond. I can’t do that. I have to pursue justice,” said Frances Chambers.
Marianna’s City Attorney said the police department investigated the Chambers case, but since the Arkansas Medical Examiner found he died of natural causes, there is nothing else to look in to.
The Chambers family hopes that changes now that a special judge has stepped in.
The Chambers case will be back in court November 17.
