Grieving family members and supporters who gathered outside the Dolton Police Department Wednesday night demanded answers about loved ones who have died.
They called for transparency, justice and accountability in the deaths of Alexis Wilson in 2021 and Darius Wilson, who died Oct. 25 in a cell at the Dolton Police Department.
“We don’t have any answers at this moment,” said LaKendra Williams, Darius Wilson’s fiance and mother of their four children. “It’s been six months. We still don’t have a death certificate. The autopsy report is still pending. It’s ridiculous. If you say he hung himself, why is it taking six months for an autopsy?”
The Cook County medical examiner’s office on Thursday provided an explanation for the delay.
“Cause and manner of death in this case are pending the findings of an investigation by Illinois State Police,” the medical examiner’s office said. “Once the police investigation is complete and final report is sent to our office, the autopsy report will be completed and made available to family.”
Dolton police took Darius Wilson, 29, into custody after responding to a domestic dispute. Family members said he made arrangements to be picked up from jail the next morning and rejected police claims that his death was a suicide. Illinois State Police are investigating the death.
“In order to maintain the integrity of ISP’s open and ongoing investigation, no additional information is being released at this time,” Illinois State Police public information officer Sgt. Christopher Watson said Thursday when I asked about the status of the case.
Loved ones expressed frustration when they met Wednesday evening outside the Dolton Police Department.
“We’re not receiving any answers,” said Darius Wilson’s mother, Carlena Wilson, of Matteson. “No one is doing anything. We’re constantly being told the state is taking over the case. But the state is constantly telling us they need more time.”
Family members said they were denied an opportunity to view Wilson’s body and have not received his identification and other personal effects.
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“No one has given us any information,” his mother said. “We don’t have a police report. We don’t know what happened.”
The medical examiner’s office explained its policy regarding viewing a body.
“The medical examiner’s office allows viewings to confirm identification of a decedent,” the office said. “When identification is already established, the decedent’s family is asked to coordinate final arrangements with a funeral home and are able to view their loved one once they have been brought to the funeral home.”
Family members said they have not heard from authorities regarding the status of the investigation into the death of Darius Wilson.
“Concerning contact with the family, the case agent last spoke to Wilson’s family last month to update them on the status of the case,” Watson said.
Williams said a camera in the Dolton jail was not working and criticized Mayor Tiffany Henyard for promoting special events and spending funds to build an ice rink.
“If you have money for skating rinks and all of this, why can’t they get that camera fixed?” Williams asked. “These are questions that I have, they’re not answering.”
I asked Henyard and Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins Thursday about the camera. Collins provided a statement that did not address my question.
“As reported in November of 2022, the Village of Dolton Police Department fully cooperated with the Cook County State’s Attorney Public Integrity Task Force as they investigated this tragic incident,” Collins wrote. “The Village of Dolton and the Police Department continues to send the Family of Mr. Darius Wilson our heart filled condolences.”
Alexis Wilson, 19, died July 27, 2021, after being shot by Dolton police who responded to a disturbance at a restaurant in the 600 block of Sibley Boulevard. Police responded to a complaint that Wilson was arguing with a restaurant worker about ordering food after the restaurant had closed at 1 a.m.
Wilson was the driver in a drive-thru and refused a police order to exit the vehicle, saying she was naked below the waist. Wilson was shot as she attempted to drive away.
Dolton police initially said the vehicle dragged a police officer. Police later announced they were releasing 27 minutes of videos from the incident.
“If you watch the video you see that nothing the police claim happened that evening actually happened,” said Cara Wilson, of Homewood, mother of Alexis Wilson.
There was a passenger in the vehicle, and police said they recovered a gun. Cara Wilson said she feels disrespected by police.
“Whey came to the door, they had no answers but simultaneously released a statement that criminalized her to justify their actions,” Cara Wilson said. “They put this narrative forth, and it seems to be the go-to for most of the media.”
Loved ones gathered in a Homewood park on the anniversary of Alexis Wilson’s death. The family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit, accusing Dolton police of causing her death through the use of excessive force.
“The village of Dolton fabricated a story to cover up the unlawful acts of its officers,” attorneys claimed in the lawsuit.
Dolton resident Sherry Britton spoke during Wednesday night’s event.
“I think accountability is very important,” Britton said. “We have to be able to trust police officers that are sworn to protect us, not to hurt us. We need to stick behind these families and stick together.”
Rabbi Michael Ben Yosef of the Chicago Activist Coalition for Justice, a civil rights organization, addressed media and led the group in prayer.
“Elected officials need to reach out to these families to be able to give whatever they need when it comes to their loved ones and justice for their families,” Yosef said. “We cannot take the first statement from police because we know how they go. There needs to be immediate transparency.”
Loved ones are right to demand justice. Family members of Alexis Wilson are pursuing justice in court. About all that can be done at the moment regarding justice for Darius Wilson is to patiently wait for state police to complete the investigation into his death.
Ted Slowik is a columnist for the Daily Southtown.
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