shuga's Blog

I was in shock when Fox  5 reported this story this morning so I thought I would get further details. 


Here is the info on the case:

Details of Disappearance

Wright was last seen at his place of employment, the Shelby County Office of Constuction Code Enforcement, in the vicinity of the 2500 block of Lamar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee on April 17, 2001. He was giving a citation in a car lot at the time. He did not return to his office to turn in his company truck, a Ford Ranger extended cab pickup with license plates numbered GT4191, or his company log, as he was supposed to when he ended his daily tour of duty. Wright has never been heard from again.
On April 19, two days after he disappeared, Wright's Code Enforcement identification and badge, and some other personal items of his, were found by a jogger in a creek in Olive Branch, Mississippi. On April 27, his company vehicle was found in a rural wheatfield in Marshall County, Mississippi. The car had been set on fire and completely destroyed. A photograph of it is posted below this case summary. There was no sign of Wright at the scene, but his personal identification and wallet were found in a nearby ditch. An extensive search of the area turned up no clues as to Wright's whereabouts.

A male individual is wanted for questioning in Wright's disappearance. A sketch of the person is posted below this case summary. He is described as Caucasian and in his mid-forties, with salt-and-pepper hair parted in the middle and wrinkles around his eyes. The man has a large build and a tan complexion. He was wearing a light blue, short sleeved, button-down shirt and khaki pants.

A witness saw the man in Olive Branch, sitting inside what appeared to be Wright's company truck in a parking lot. There was a large bundle of blankets or sheets in the truck as well; the size and proportions of the bundle were consistent with a wrapped-up body. The truck was parked in the lot for about 45 minutes. The man inside has never been identified and police are not sure whether he was involved in Wright's disappearance.

In 2004, Wright's family initated the process to have him declared legally dead so they could collect on his life insurance policy and have offered the theory that Wright was murdered in Memphis, by someone who got angry when he cited them for a code violation, and his body and truck were taken to Marshall County and disposed of. Wright's coworkers state that they were occasionally threatened when they cited people. A judge heard the Wright family's case and declared Wright dead.

In July 2004, police made an arrest in connection with Wright's disappearance. They received a tip that Dale V. Mardis might be involved in his case. After searching Mardis's home and questioning him, they placed him under arrest for Wright's murder. Mardis owns a lot of commercial property in Memphis, including the one Wright visited the day of his disappearance, and the two have had run-ins in the past. He had black eyes and broken ribs after Wright disappeared and never explained how he got the injuries. Three witnesses testified that he confessed to them that he killed Wright in self-defense when they were arguing and Wright reached for his gun. He then dismembered the body and buried it, but later dug it up and burned it.

Mardis has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Wright's wife has also filed a $25-million wrongful death lawsuit against him.

Wright was born in Chicago, Illinois. He is described as a mild-mannered, hardworking homebody and family man who does not often go out socializing. He may be have a .357 handgun in his possession. Wright's remains have never been found, but foul play is suspected in his disappearance due to the circumstances involved.

 I think the jury has completely lost their minds in reference to this verdict. 15 years for killing someone burning and hiding the body parts. Come on people. It's sad to say but If it was the other way around a black man doing this to a white man.  He would be in the chair already.