Dau Mabil’s family demands answers to the investigation into his death

Concerned family, friends and supporters of Dau Mabil from across the country gathered outside Capitol Police headquarters Saturday to raise awareness of the Sudanese man and Belhaven resident’s case. Mabil disappeared in March after a walk, and his body was found in Lawrence County’s Pearl River more than two weeks after his disappearance. Those who knew him are eager for more information. “The sense of injustice and failure that my family and I … and the community, and particularly the Sudanese community, are experiencing with the death of Dau is unbearable,” Bul Mabil said. The Mississippi NAACP held a press conference Saturday morning to express frustration with the handling of Dau’s investigation. Nsombi Lambright-Haynes, president of the Jackson branch of the NAACP, said, “From the beginning, family members were kept in the dark about the information. Capitol Police, who are in charge of the investigation, said there was no crime and the investigation was closed. And now we know that the investigation is ongoing, and we want to make sure that the investigation is ongoing, and we are calling for federal intervention.” Dau’s wife, Karissa Bowley, reported him missing. After his body was found, his brother Bul sued Karissa to prevent the cremation of the body so an independent autopsy could be performed. But Dau’s body has still not been released to the family. After the press conference, a vigil was held on Museum Trail to honor Dau’s life. But everyone who was connected to Dau wants to find out what happened so they can have closure.