Family and attorneys seek answers about inmate's death

AMITE COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is investigating the death of an inmate at the Amite County Jail.

On October 4, 41-year-old Trumaine White, a truck driver, died in prison.

Nearly a month later, there are still unanswered questions and concerns surrounding his death.

“As we investigate this matter, we are considering whether this was racially motivated and whether it was excessively violent,” said Bobby DiCello, who represents White's family.

Although the investigation is still in its early stages, DiCello provides a timeline of the events he believes occurred.

The attorney said White went to a tire store in Liberty on Oct. 3 or 4 to purchase a tire.

As he left, the 41-year-old threw something out of his window.

A tire shop employee called police and accused White of throwing away a clear white bag with a white, powdery substance inside.

However, White denied this claim, saying it was a paper towel that he threw out the window.

White then went to eat at a local restaurant.

Not long after, police officers came in, arrested White and took him to jail.

He later died in the Amite County Jail.

DiCello said he wanted to know what happened to White after he was taken into custody.

“How can such a small moment lead to death,” DiCello said. “What we are seeing at this time suggests that the officer’s conduct directly contributed to his death.”

Dicello said there are still many unanswered questions that he wants answered.

Questions like:

• Which agency arrested White?
• What charges were brought against him?
• How many hours did White spend in prison before his death?
• Was excessive force used?
• What was the exact cause of death?

“He was arrested, he expressed that he didn't want to be arrested, we know that, and we know that the officers used force to take him to prison,” Dicello said. “How much force is used, who uses that force and when, is part of the facts we are currently developing in our investigation.”

WLBT reached out to Liberty Police to inquire about White's arrest and death.

They told us to call the Amite County Sheriff's Department.

After calling that department, they told WLBT MBI that it is now taking over the case and that they would have no further comment.

“I am puzzled as to how police became involved in a scenario like this,” DiCello said. “It seems such an insignificant problem and such a terrible result obviously raises many questions.”

MBI has now taken over this case. “Agents continue to investigate and gather evidence and information. “This remains an open and ongoing investigation,” a spokesperson tells us.

The Amite County Coroner tells WLBT that an autopsy report is not yet available and White's exact cause of death is still unknown.

WLBT will continue to monitor this development and will provide you with further information as it becomes available.

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