AUGUST 26,1996-JUNE 6, 2011
Monday June 6, 2011
Jason Smith 14, African American teen was supposed to be on his way to school what happened next would lead to his death.
The following events that took place would change the lives of everyone involved and leave some questions yet to be answered.
Jason woke up that morning got dressed in a pair of khakis his leather converse sneakers, a blue or white polo shirt and his navy colored bubble jacket let us not forget his back pack. He spoke with his half- sleep uncle letting him know he was about to go to school. In a sleepy haze, his uncle nodded his head of approval never realizing that he would not see Jason alive again. The bus was supposed to pick Jason up that morning right in front of the house. We don't know how Jason wind up over on the other side of town at the Sutton and King's resident four miles away from his neighborhood and 28 miles from Jonesboro Junior High School where he was attending summer school so that he could play football that year.
There was said that a phone call was made by Jason while he was over at the resident of Ronald King (17) to a family friend and on the voice mail message, Jason sounded frightened or nervous. This same family friend is supposed to have been the transportation Jason used to get to the Sutton house.
All we know was that Jason was supposed to get on the bus be in class by 8am and then be home by no later 345pm that afternoon.
Bruce Smith father of Jason Smith left two days prior to escort his mother back to California from visiting in Eros after the funeral of her sister. There were strict instructions left by Bruce pertaining to Jason to Bruce's brother and Jason's older brother.
That evening of June 6 Jason fail to return home, so Jason's brother called his father to let him know that Jason hadn't made it in yet. Bruce a little upset told Jason's brother to go look for him. Around 730pm, Mr. Bruce received a phone call from his brother to confirm that he had found Jason but Jason was not alive. They had just pulled Jason out of the water.
After speaking with the Jackson Parish Sheriff Department leaving instructions not to touch his baby until he got there. Bruce left from California at 12am, and he made it back to Eros on the June 8th around 5pm.
The 911 Call
This call came from the King residence made by a woman who seemed to know that Jason was in the water already this call was made at 654pm, which means by now Jason if he went to school and got out at 3pm he was already in the water for about 4 hours prior to the call being made.
Examination of Jason's body
Bruce arrived in Eros, he immediately attempted to find out what funeral home Jason's body was in. He found him at the Paradise Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Upon arriving there, he questioned the attendant or assistant where was his son, before he could answer him, Bruce found Jason's body in another room he quickly noticed that Jason chest was not sewn up, upon looking down he noticed that there were no organs. He then asked what happened to his organs the attendant didn't have any answers. Bruce demanded that they sew his baby up, prior to him being sewn up Bruce took pictures of Jason's face and arms.
Bruce found out that Jason's body was shipped from Southern Funeral Home a white owned funeral home where the coroner worked, to the Paradise Funeral Home owned by a black man. In the official report, it stated that Jason's body was taken to the Arkansas Crime Lab because of the suspicious of foul play. When contacted the Arkansas Crime Lab said that Jason was never there.
Bruce was angry and confused now because he was alarmed that something was not right with this whole thing. Upon him attempting to find answers to his son's death, he was followed and harassed.
The investigation from the family of Jason
Jason's sister and his uncle began to do their own investigation only to find out that they were getting the run around when no one would return calls at all.
They attempted to contact the school which the school refused to tell them if Jason was even present that day. They discovered that one of the kids that were with Jason, Ronald King (17) had a facebook page which could have had some evidence of what took place. Jason's sister showed this page to the Louisiana Wildlife Fisheries agent a couple days later the page was changed why?
Bruce spoke with several other people that probably could have assisted him in getting the answers needed one person, in particular, was Micheal Poole who was a friend of Ronald King , Bruce noticed that Micheal was very precise with the information about the incident involving Jason. During the questioning, Micheal Poole felt threatened and called the police Jackson Parish Sheriff who showed up and escorted Bruce away from the area.
Bruce left angry because he had a hunch that more did happen to his son, you see Jason doesn't swim, he was scared of water. One of the deputies came to Bruce's house to discuss with him about the incident he had with Micheal Poole. The deputy told Bruce and his family that the people involved were bad news and did participate with the KLU KLUX KLAN.
This made Bruce even angrier to the point that he really wanted answers and if this was a hate crime he needed someone to be punished.
Since this was hearsay Bruce understood that he had to be careful.
.
Conflicting Stories
By the time Jason was pulled out the water it was almost a quarter nine, dark and hot. The 911 was not called until 654pm that evening. Keep in mind, Jason never returned home from school, so that had to be after 3pm the time school let out. The call came from the King resident where one of the boys involved lived. When the Sheriff department made it to the scene, the father of the King boy was in the water searching for Jason's body. The area was never closed off so others had a chance to walk around what would have been maybe some evidence.
The two white males that were involved had conflicting stories when given to the officials.
17 year old stated that he was with Jason from 8am- 2pm and that they were attempting to find a ride to the nearest swimming hole and since they couldn't find a ride they went to the pond that was behind the King house they got in a boat and stated they wound up in the middle of the pond when the boat took on water. The King boy jumped out and left Jason because he thought Jason could swim. Then he came out the water went home changed clothes and watched television keep in mind, King's father was in the house at the time.
The other boy the younger one (13) on his statement said all three of them were together they started rocking the boat and it flipped over he and the King boy jumped Jason followed but couldn't swim. He tried to save him, but he was too heavy he then let him go, and Jason drowned. He also got out of the water walked home changed clothes watched television until his mother came home and then she made the King boy go home so she could take her son to a birthday party while Jason laid in the water.
Both boys were read their Miranda Rights there was a third Miranda Right statement by a female adult, but there is no written statement that was with the copy of Miranda Rights very suspicious.
The Boat
The owner of the pond said that they did not know who the boat belonged to, and it had no numbers or information on it. According to the report, the boat was found on one end of the pond, Jason's body was found on the other end. It was said that the boat had no holes in it by the mother of the (13 year old) in a conversation with Bruce.
Safety of the Pond
According to Bruce, there was no fencing or signs stated that the pond was off limits to anyone. Bruce asked the sheriff about a fence that was put up after Jason's death was told by the sheriff that it's one up now.
Who no longer lives in Eros
The two white males that were involved no longer reside in Eros. Why would you leave if you didn't do anything wrong?
Questions that need answers: ( Dr. Velva Boles)
Why was Jason partially clad was recovered: there were no shoes, pants, jackets, no book bag accompanying the body and Jason's family never received the missing items.
Why was an autopsy performed so quickly especially since the body had to be sent out of the state to Arkansas to be autopsied?
Why did authorities not wait for the father to arrive back in Louisiana before transporting Jason's body to Arkansas; were Jason's organs harvested rather than returned to Louisiana with the body?
What happened on June 6, 2011 that involved Clayton Sutton, Ronald King Jr. and Jason Smith that resulted in Jason Smith's death?
What made the sheriff said there was suspicious circumstances, as a he stated to the father on the phone when body was recovered?
What is the significance of phone calls made by Jason to the uncle presumably at 10am CST and to his brother's girlfriend (during morning time unknown) on June 6, 2011?
Jason Smith 14, African American teen was supposed to be on his way to school what happened next would lead to his death.
The following events that took place would change the lives of everyone involved and leave some questions yet to be answered.
Jason woke up that morning got dressed in a pair of khakis his leather converse sneakers, a blue or white polo shirt and his navy colored bubble jacket let us not forget his back pack. He spoke with his half- sleep uncle letting him know he was about to go to school. In a sleepy haze, his uncle nodded his head of approval never realizing that he would not see Jason alive again. The bus was supposed to pick Jason up that morning right in front of the house. We don't know how Jason wind up over on the other side of town at the Sutton and King's resident four miles away from his neighborhood and 28 miles from Jonesboro Junior High School where he was attending summer school so that he could play football that year.
There was said that a phone call was made by Jason while he was over at the resident of Ronald King (17) to a family friend and on the voice mail message, Jason sounded frightened or nervous. This same family friend is supposed to have been the transportation Jason used to get to the Sutton house.
All we know was that Jason was supposed to get on the bus be in class by 8am and then be home by no later 345pm that afternoon.
Bruce Smith father of Jason Smith left two days prior to escort his mother back to California from visiting in Eros after the funeral of her sister. There were strict instructions left by Bruce pertaining to Jason to Bruce's brother and Jason's older brother.
That evening of June 6 Jason fail to return home, so Jason's brother called his father to let him know that Jason hadn't made it in yet. Bruce a little upset told Jason's brother to go look for him. Around 730pm, Mr. Bruce received a phone call from his brother to confirm that he had found Jason but Jason was not alive. They had just pulled Jason out of the water.
After speaking with the Jackson Parish Sheriff Department leaving instructions not to touch his baby until he got there. Bruce left from California at 12am, and he made it back to Eros on the June 8th around 5pm.
The 911 Call
This call came from the King residence made by a woman who seemed to know that Jason was in the water already this call was made at 654pm, which means by now Jason if he went to school and got out at 3pm he was already in the water for about 4 hours prior to the call being made.
Examination of Jason's body
Bruce arrived in Eros, he immediately attempted to find out what funeral home Jason's body was in. He found him at the Paradise Funeral Home in Jonesboro. Upon arriving there, he questioned the attendant or assistant where was his son, before he could answer him, Bruce found Jason's body in another room he quickly noticed that Jason chest was not sewn up, upon looking down he noticed that there were no organs. He then asked what happened to his organs the attendant didn't have any answers. Bruce demanded that they sew his baby up, prior to him being sewn up Bruce took pictures of Jason's face and arms.
Bruce found out that Jason's body was shipped from Southern Funeral Home a white owned funeral home where the coroner worked, to the Paradise Funeral Home owned by a black man. In the official report, it stated that Jason's body was taken to the Arkansas Crime Lab because of the suspicious of foul play. When contacted the Arkansas Crime Lab said that Jason was never there.
Bruce was angry and confused now because he was alarmed that something was not right with this whole thing. Upon him attempting to find answers to his son's death, he was followed and harassed.
The investigation from the family of Jason
Jason's sister and his uncle began to do their own investigation only to find out that they were getting the run around when no one would return calls at all.
They attempted to contact the school which the school refused to tell them if Jason was even present that day. They discovered that one of the kids that were with Jason, Ronald King (17) had a facebook page which could have had some evidence of what took place. Jason's sister showed this page to the Louisiana Wildlife Fisheries agent a couple days later the page was changed why?
Bruce spoke with several other people that probably could have assisted him in getting the answers needed one person, in particular, was Micheal Poole who was a friend of Ronald King , Bruce noticed that Micheal was very precise with the information about the incident involving Jason. During the questioning, Micheal Poole felt threatened and called the police Jackson Parish Sheriff who showed up and escorted Bruce away from the area.
Bruce left angry because he had a hunch that more did happen to his son, you see Jason doesn't swim, he was scared of water. One of the deputies came to Bruce's house to discuss with him about the incident he had with Micheal Poole. The deputy told Bruce and his family that the people involved were bad news and did participate with the KLU KLUX KLAN.
This made Bruce even angrier to the point that he really wanted answers and if this was a hate crime he needed someone to be punished.
Since this was hearsay Bruce understood that he had to be careful.
.
Conflicting Stories
By the time Jason was pulled out the water it was almost a quarter nine, dark and hot. The 911 was not called until 654pm that evening. Keep in mind, Jason never returned home from school, so that had to be after 3pm the time school let out. The call came from the King resident where one of the boys involved lived. When the Sheriff department made it to the scene, the father of the King boy was in the water searching for Jason's body. The area was never closed off so others had a chance to walk around what would have been maybe some evidence.
The two white males that were involved had conflicting stories when given to the officials.
17 year old stated that he was with Jason from 8am- 2pm and that they were attempting to find a ride to the nearest swimming hole and since they couldn't find a ride they went to the pond that was behind the King house they got in a boat and stated they wound up in the middle of the pond when the boat took on water. The King boy jumped out and left Jason because he thought Jason could swim. Then he came out the water went home changed clothes and watched television keep in mind, King's father was in the house at the time.
The other boy the younger one (13) on his statement said all three of them were together they started rocking the boat and it flipped over he and the King boy jumped Jason followed but couldn't swim. He tried to save him, but he was too heavy he then let him go, and Jason drowned. He also got out of the water walked home changed clothes watched television until his mother came home and then she made the King boy go home so she could take her son to a birthday party while Jason laid in the water.
Both boys were read their Miranda Rights there was a third Miranda Right statement by a female adult, but there is no written statement that was with the copy of Miranda Rights very suspicious.
The Boat
The owner of the pond said that they did not know who the boat belonged to, and it had no numbers or information on it. According to the report, the boat was found on one end of the pond, Jason's body was found on the other end. It was said that the boat had no holes in it by the mother of the (13 year old) in a conversation with Bruce.
Safety of the Pond
According to Bruce, there was no fencing or signs stated that the pond was off limits to anyone. Bruce asked the sheriff about a fence that was put up after Jason's death was told by the sheriff that it's one up now.
Who no longer lives in Eros
The two white males that were involved no longer reside in Eros. Why would you leave if you didn't do anything wrong?
Questions that need answers: ( Dr. Velva Boles)
Why was Jason partially clad was recovered: there were no shoes, pants, jackets, no book bag accompanying the body and Jason's family never received the missing items.
Why was an autopsy performed so quickly especially since the body had to be sent out of the state to Arkansas to be autopsied?
Why did authorities not wait for the father to arrive back in Louisiana before transporting Jason's body to Arkansas; were Jason's organs harvested rather than returned to Louisiana with the body?
What happened on June 6, 2011 that involved Clayton Sutton, Ronald King Jr. and Jason Smith that resulted in Jason Smith's death?
What made the sheriff said there was suspicious circumstances, as a he stated to the father on the phone when body was recovered?
What is the significance of phone calls made by Jason to the uncle presumably at 10am CST and to his brother's girlfriend (during morning time unknown) on June 6, 2011?
Why did the two teens involved leave town?
Can we get these answers so that Jason can rest in peace?
Celeta B. McCall
Can we get these answers so that Jason can rest in peace?
Celeta B. McCall
