The family of Dexter Wade is seeking justice and answers following the alleged fatal incident involving a Jackson, Mississippi Police Department cruiser earlier this year. In a tearful press conference held on Monday, Wade's mother, Bettersten Wade Robinson, expressed her anguish and called for accountability for the tragedy that had befallen her oldest son.

The distressing event unfolded in March when Dexter Wade, aged 37, was reportedly struck and killed by an off-duty Jackson police officer as he crossed a local highway. Shockingly, his family was unaware of his fate until late August — a staggering five months after the incident took place — when they were informed of his death.

According to civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, Dexter Wade was positively identified by an investigator from the coroner's office using fingerprints and this information was reported to Jackson Police on March 9, merely four days after the fatal accident occurred.

During his State of the City address on October 26, Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba disclosed that Dexter Wade had no identification but was found with a prescription drug bottle. The police department attempted to contact his medical provider using the information on the bottle, but the number provided was either inaccurate or no longer valid. Consequently, authorities were unable to establish contact with the family before Bettersten Wade Robinson reported her son missing.

Tragically, Dexter Wade's body remained in a morgue for months before ultimately being buried in a potter's field due to the inability to locate his family promptly. Mayor Lumumba acknowledged this failure, attributing it to a lack of communication between the missing persons division, the coroner's office, and the accident investigation team. Lumumba clarified that the accident was deemed an unintended tragedy with no malicious intent.

However, attorney Ben Crump raised concerns regarding why the police did not visit Bettersten Wade Robinson's residence to deliver the devastating news of her son's passing. Crump argued that a simple act of notification, such as knocking on the door, could have spared the family from the prolonged agony of uncertainty.

The Hinds County District Attorney's Office has released a statement confirming an ongoing investigation into Dexter Wade's death, focusing on the failure to promptly inform his next of kin and the irregularities surrounding the handling of his body. The Jackson Police Department has declined to comment on the allegations.

In the midst of their grief and search for justice, Wade's family is requesting the exhumation of his body to conduct an independent autopsy and arrange for a proper burial and funeral. Mayor Lumumba expressed sympathy for the family's plight, referring to the delay in notifying Bettersten Wade Robinson as a significant failure.

Meanwhile, Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade, who has no relation to Dexter Wade, extended his condolences to the family and assured that measures have been taken to prevent such incidents from occurring under his watch. Chief Wade pledged to hold those accountable who may have contributed to the oversight.

During the press conference, attorney Ben Crump accused the police of engaging in a potential cover-up by not promptly notifying Bettersten Wade Robinson of her son's death. He emphasized the need to challenge the prevailing police narrative and reaffirmed their commitment to fight for justice on behalf of Dexter Wade.

The family's quest for answers and accountability continues, as they refuse to let Dexter Wade be forgotten or dismissed amidst the grief and trauma caused by this tragic incident.