Updated 9/11/23 at 11:33 a.m E.T:ย
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A D.C. manโs mysterious death has officially been ruled an accident. On Friday (September 8), officials stated that Ernest Terrell Newkirkโwho was found dead facedown in the middle of a street in Mayโdied of โacute ethanol intoxication.โ
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for the District of Columbia said โhypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseaseโ as well as โend stage renal disease of unknown etiologyโ were also factors in his death.
Roger Turpin, Newkirkโs domestic partner of two decades, said neither the Medical Examinerโs office nor D.C. police reached out to him about the cause and manner of death of Newkirk. Turpin said he learned about it from a news article.
Original Post:
In May, a Black man was found dead in the middle of a street in Washington D.C. The victim, who was later identified as 55-year-old Ernest Terrell Newkirk, was without his wallet, jewelry, phone and car as they were all missing. Months later, authorities say that there is โno evidence of foul play.โ However, someone close to Newkirk is demanding answers.
Newkirk died just hours after notifying his partner, Roger Turpin, that he was returning home from a local bar. His body was located a mile away from the pairโs home. Though the investigation into Newkirkโs death is ongoing, Turpin believes that authorities are not taking it seriously.
Shortly after Newkirkโs death, Turpin said outgoing calls were made from the victimโs cellphone. In addition, Newkirkโs car received traffic tickets and someone used his debit card to buy gas and attempted to use it at an ATM, according to documentation Turpin had gotten.
Turpin said when Newkirkโs 2017 Camaro convertible was recovered, there were items in the car that werenโt the coupleโs. Turpin claimed he has consistently offered to give this documentation to authorities for months. However, they allegedly either ignored or refused his help.
In a statement, Hannah Glasgowโa spokesperson for D.C.โs Metropolitan Police Departmentโexplained that police are still looking into Newkirkโs death. โAt this time, Mr. Newkirkโs death does not appear to be a result of foul play. There are no signs of trauma. We are awaiting the [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner] to provide a cause and manner of death,โ Glasgow said.
In addition, Glasgow stated that the police department โapproaches all cases with a profound sense of responsibilityโ and โeach investigation is given the utmost attention and dedication.โ Newkirkโs death is not being investigated as a homicide, since according to Glasgow โno evidence has been recovered that would justify a homicide investigation.โ
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