If the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department knows anything about the circumstances that led to the death of civil rights leader T. Anthony Spearman – and it certainly does – the department is still saying absolutely nothing about it.
Eight months after the fact and after an autopsy from the NC Medical Examiner’s Office has been released to the public, the Sheriff’s Department has nothing to add.
The state medical examiner determined, in the autopsy released this week, that Spearman’s death was a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound – but it did not shed any light whatsoever on what led Spearman, a 71-year-old reverend, to take his own life.
In July 2022, the department began an investigation of the death and the strange series of events that led up to it.
Since that time, the department has released no information.
On Wednesday, Feb. 15, the Rhino Times asked if the Sheriff’s Department could shed any light at all regarding where that investigation stood.
Later in the day, Sheriff’s Department Communications Specialist Bria Evans sent the following response via email. Here is the reply in its entirety: “At this time, the GCSO [Guilford County Sheriff’s Office] does not have a comment regarding the Spearman case,”
Last summer, when Spearman died, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department release stated only that sheriff’s deputies responded to 4246 Farlow Dr. in Greensboro “in reference to a death investigation” in response to a 911 call at 5:08 p.m. regarding a 71-year-old found deceased in his residence.
“This is an ongoing investigation and no further information will be released at this time,” that brief press release from the Sheriff’s Department stated.
The “at this time” part of the statement seems to suggest that information would be released at a later date, but that is looking more and more unlikely.
Do you expect any different from the Leadership (Sheriff) of the Department. They continue to not be transparent. The voters of Guilford County missed out when they voted Rogers back in. Phil Byrd or Billy Queen would have steered this Department back to a Professional Agency with people wanting to work here. We will suffer for several years. Its a shame.
Is there a chance it was simply forgotten?
You would think they would release all information. I’m sure there’s a scandal out there and it was coming to surface. Just leaves us all to wander what went on behind closed doors. It’s time to hang all dirty laundry out to the public. I’m sure the sheriff’s department would have no problem with anyone else.
Did anyone happen to ask Ms. Evans about her DUI in a county car case.
Our sheriff’s department sucks. Big cover up here.Another crooked black preacher who couldn’t face the truth.
sounds like outside pressure (you supply who this pressure is). There will be a coverup of silence on this investigation. The public will read between the lines on this one. Same with the Dr. Durel Long case.
What exactly is the Sheriff supposed to add to this? An accused pervert hiding behind the veil of the clergy managed to slither his way onto the local board of elections and to the top of the NAACP before killing himself? Similar stories play out almost daily in our country.
Move on, there’s nothing to see here. I just wonder how many other victims are out there, but searching for them doesn’t change anything. The whole thing is a sad and ridiculous mess.