{"id":3701,"date":"2026-07-11T13:54:50","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T08:54:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3701"},"modified":"2026-07-11T13:54:50","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T08:54:50","slug":"10-young-black-lives-lost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=3701","title":{"rendered":"10 Young Black Lives Lost"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"0\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" height=\"377\" width=\"660\" src=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?w=660&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"A collage of four images showing a young girl with braids, a woman with long dark hair, a young woman with long curly hair, and a young woman with short dark hair.\" class=\"wp-image-1680590\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.750735690305467;width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?strip=all&amp;quality=80 1680w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=153%2C87&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 153w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=378%2C216&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 378w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=768%2C439&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 768w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=660%2C377&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 660w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=1536%2C878&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 1536w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=180%2C103&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 180w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=280%2C160&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 280w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=560%2C320&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 560w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=840%2C480&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 840w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=140%2C80&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 140w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=70%2C40&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 70w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=350%2C200&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 350w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=700%2C400&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 700w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=175%2C100&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 175w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=88%2C50&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 88w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=720%2C411&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 720w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=900%2C514&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 900w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=1200%2C686&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 1200w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=450%2C257&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 450w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=600%2C343&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 600w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=250%2C143&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 250w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=257%2C147&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 257w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=245%2C140&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 245w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=151%2C86&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 151w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=144%2C82&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 144w, https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?resize=50%2C29&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Screenshot credits: Jor\u2019Dynn Duncan \/ News12, To\u2019Nea Miller \/ NBC6, Kenneka Jenkins \/ WGN-TV, Juliana Nzita \/ GoFundMe.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The death of 18-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/tag\/nolan-wells\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"703598088\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nolan Xavier Wells<\/a> has reignited calls across the Black community for greater urgency in protecting Black children, teens and young adults across the country. For decades, Black youth in the United States have<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.powershealth.org\/about-us\/newsroom\/health-library\/2025\/03\/26\/black-americans-twice-as-likely-to-die-during-childhood-as-whites\"> died at significantly higher rates <\/a>than their white counterparts, a longstanding disparity that continues to raise concerns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wells, a college football player from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, disappeared on July 4, 2026, during an Independence Day boating trip with friends to the remote Horn Island. Two days later, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newsone.com\/6865507\/nolan-wells-family-retains-civil-rights-attorney-ben-crump\/\">his body was recovered from the water <\/a>near the island\u2019s northern end. As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding his death, new details are raising additional questions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/newsone.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/22\/2026\/07\/17835451440201.png?w=1024&amp;strip=all&amp;quality=80\" alt=\"Nolan Wells, Black Youth Deaths, Black Deaths Youth \" class=\"wp-image-6865600\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Wells Family GoFundMe \/ Screenshot<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RELATED CONTENT: <a href=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/1679922\/bernita-bowlding-white-supremacists-patriot-front-op-ed\/\">If That Viral Bernita Bowlding Photo Doesn\u2019t Terrify You, You\u2019re Not Paying Attention To What\u2019s Been Happening To Black Women [Op-Ed]<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"1\">\n<h3 id=\"h-mississippi-authorities-say-they-don-t-see-signs-of-foul-play-in-nolan-wells-death\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Mississippi authorities say they don\u2019t see signs of foul play in Nolan Wells\u2019 death.<\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While local authorities initially believed Wells accidentally drowned and said they found no immediate signs of foul play, Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/body-found-believed-missing-mississippi-18-year-absolutely\/story?id=134544120\">told <em>ABC News<\/em> on July 7 <\/a>that the group Wells traveled with returned to the mainland without him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey went back without Nolan,\u201d Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said. \u201cFrom what we understand, he chose to stay there.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-ben-crump-says-there-are-many-contradictions-in-the-state-s-investigation-so-far\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ben Crump says there are many \u201ccontradictions\u201d in the state\u2019s investigation so far.<\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"2\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite those statements, Wells\u2019 family says there are still significant unanswered questions. They have retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, arranged for Wells\u2019 body to be flown to Washington, D.C., for an independent autopsy, and launched their own investigation separate from local authorities, according to Crump\u2019s interview with Linsey Davis on <em>ABC News.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re trying to be very transparent because the family has some concerns about the state of Mississippi doing an investigation of the death of a young Black man where young white students may be looked at as having some culpability,\u201d Crump explained during the interview published July 9. \u201cWhen you think about the history of Mississippi? This is the state where Emmet Till was lynched.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crump said he has already identified what he describes as \u201ccontradictions\u201d in the investigation. Although authorities have said they have found no evidence of foul play, Crump pointed to several unresolved concerns, including a video circulating online that he appeared to confirm captured an altercation involving Wells<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/valsinsights\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=AgjuTstqkvBH_zYZ4ZzQBAb\"> \u201cand somebody yelling at one another on the boat.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crump also said<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newsone.com\/6865371\/nolan-xavier-wells-questions-we-still-need-answered-about-his-death\/\"> a young woman who reportedly spoke with Wells<\/a> on Horn Island came forward with a statement claiming that Wells returned to the boat after their conversation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, according to Crump, Wells\u2019 friends have provided a conflicting account of what happened before his disappearance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe boys on the boat said, \u2018No, Nolan told them he was going to stay with her.\u2019 And so they are conflicting. She\u2019s saying he went and got on the boat. They saying he didn\u2019t get on the boat. So which is it? And all we know is Nolan is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crump said the family\u2019s suspicions have intensified because, after Wells\u2019 friends returned to the mainland without him, messages on Wells\u2019 phone had allegedly been deleted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThat\u2019s not adding up to them,\u201d the attorney continued. \u201cThey\u2019re saying they are trying to understand why they\u2019re deleted messages and so it\u2019s very concerning to them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investigators are now actively seeking more photos and videos taken of the alleged altercation on Horn Island. Crump said the Wells family doesn\u2019t believe Nolan died of an accidental drowning because he could swim.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"3\">\n<h3 id=\"h-deaths-among-black-youth-are-on-the-rise\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Deaths among Black youth are on the rise. <\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sadly, Wells\u2019 death comes amid broader concerns about longstanding racial disparities affecting Black Americans. A March 2025 study published in <em>Annals of Internal Medicine<\/em> found that Black babies and children <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.acpjournals.org\/doi\/10.7326\/ANNALS-24-02794\">are more than twice as likely to die <\/a>as white children, with the mortality gap widening since the 1950s. Researchers found that Black children died at a rate 2.15 times higher than white children throughout the 2010s.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study also found that the leading causes of excess deaths differed by age. Among children younger than five, perinatal conditions were the primary cause. For children and teens ages 5 to 19, external causes, including homicides and accidents, were the leading contributors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The disparities continue into adulthood. A study from <em>Tulane University <\/em>found that Black adults in the United States <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/sph.tulane.edu\/study-finds-eight-factors-put-black-adults-greater-risk-early-death\">face a 59% higher risk <\/a>of premature death than white adults. Homicide remains <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kff.org\/racial-equity-and-health-policy\/racial-disparities-in-life-expectancy\/\">one of the leading contributors <\/a>to that disparity, according to research published by<em> KFF<\/em> this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Wells\u2019 family continues seeking answers, his case has joined a growing list of deaths involving young Black people that have sparked national attention, prompted public outcry, and raised serious questions about justice and accountability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep scrolling for nine more cases involving young Black people that have shocked the nation and fueled ongoing demands for answers.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"h-1-kayla-huff\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. <strong>Kayla Huff<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 16-year-old from Moberly, Missouri, went missing on May 6, 2026, and her body was discovered in a densely wooded area within the Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area, according to<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/krcgtv.com\/news\/local\/suspect-stays-jailed-without-bond-after-hearing-in-kayla-huff-murder-case\"> <em>KRCGTV.<\/em><\/a> Investigators uncovered a calculated plot in which multiple suspects poured motor oil into her car\u2019s gas tank to intentionally disable it and break it down on the road, <em>KOMU<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.komu.com\/news\/midmissourinews\/bond-granted-for-man-accused-of-hiding-suspect-in-kayla-huffs-death\/article_16719149-2fda-4684-bc7d-1c224383f161.html\">noted. <\/a>Court documents revealed she was kidnapped, severely beaten, and shot to death before being dumped. Six suspects, including five adults and one minor, have been charged with crimes ranging from first-degree murder to kidnapping and evidence tampering. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"4\">\n<h3 id=\"h-2-juliana-nzita\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. <strong>Juliana Nzita<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-9-16 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 16-year-old girl who had recently migrated to Charlotte, North Carolina, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, went missing on April 28, 2026. Her body was discovered on May 8, 2026, <a href=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/1676807\/juliana-nzita-hanging-death\/\">hanging from a tree on a property managed<\/a> by the United House of Prayer for All People church. Local police officially ruled her death a suicide and stated they found no evidence of foul play. However, the ruling provoked widespread community distrust, public skepticism regarding scene evidence, such as a small chair found nearby\u2014and frustration over the church\u2019s silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"5\">\n<h3 id=\"h-3-to-nea-miller\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. <strong>To\u2019Nea Miller<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 27-year-old Michigan native was found hanging from a tree near Gwen Cherry Park in Miami, Florida, on June 18, 2026. The Miami-Dade Sheriff\u2019s Office quickly ruled her death a suicide and stated there was no evidence of foul play. Her family and community advocates strongly rejected this conclusion, demanding an independent autopsy. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf anybody knew my sister To\u2019Nea Nicole, that\u2019s the last thing she would do. She loved life too much,\u201d Miller\u2019s sister, Teri Miller, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcmiami.com\/news\/local\/naacp-to-speak-on-death-of-michigan-woman-found-in-miami-park\/3826214\/\">said during a press conference<\/a> with the Miami-Dade branch of the NAACP in late June, <em>according to NBC Miami. <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While online speculation suggested she was visiting for the holiday weekend, local data indicated she had been in Miami since February and was using services for the unhoused.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"6\">\n<h3 id=\"h-4-zekevian-james-amp-jo-quavious-jones\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Zekevian <strong>James &amp; Jo\u2019Quavious Jones<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On July 1, 2026, the bodies of 19-year-old Zekevian James and 17-year-old Jo\u2019Quavious Jones were<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wtvm.com\/2026\/07\/03\/mother-speaks-out-after-son-teen-found-dead-webster-county-woods\/\"> discovered in a wooded area of Webster County<\/a>, Georgia, near Twin Towers Road and Johnson Road, according to <em>WTVM 9<\/em>. Authorities launched a search after a family member reported one of the teenagers missing the previous day. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is treating the case as an active double homicide investigation. Their families have publicly expressed frustration over a lack of information from law enforcement, and while rumors have circulated throughout the local community, no suspects or arrests have been officially announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cSomething happened Tuesday night. I don\u2019t really know everything, I\u2019ve heard a lot of rumors but I don\u2019t really know. You can\u2019t believe rumors because it\u2019s a million of them,\u201d Sandra James, the mother of Zekevian James, <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wtvm.com\/2026\/07\/03\/mother-speaks-out-after-son-teen-found-dead-webster-county-woods\/\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wtvm.com\/2026\/07\/03\/mother-speaks-out-after-son-teen-found-dead-webster-county-woods\/\">told <\/a><em><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wtvm.com\/2026\/07\/03\/mother-speaks-out-after-son-teen-found-dead-webster-county-woods\/\" id=\"https:\/\/www.wtvm.com\/2026\/07\/03\/mother-speaks-out-after-son-teen-found-dead-webster-county-woods\/\">WTVM 9<\/a> <\/em>during an interview published July 3. \u201cThe hard part is I still have other children and I have to see about them. With all this, it\u2019s just a lot \u2014 it makes you feel overwhelmed,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"7\">\n<h3 id=\"h-5-demartravion-trey-reed\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. <strong>Demartravion Trey Reed<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 21-year-old freshman student at Delta State University<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newsone.com\/6463787\/black-man-found-hanging-mississippi-delta-state-university\/\"> was found hanging from a tree <\/a>near the campus pickleball courts in Cleveland, Mississippi, on Sept. 15, 2025. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner and local coroner ruled his death a suicide via positional hanging and noted that a preliminary examination showed no signs of physical assault or broken bones. The incident caused immediate distress on campus and sparked widespread public skepticism due to Mississippi\u2019s history of racial lynchings. Backed by an independent foundation, Reed\u2019s family retained attorney Ben Crump to pursue an independent autopsy, while investigative files were forwarded to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney\u2019s Office for federal review. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"8\">\n<h3 id=\"h-6-jor-dynn-duncan\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. <strong>Jor\u2019Dynn Duncan<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The death of 7-year-old Jor\u2019Dynn Duncan of Bayport, Long Island, New York, <a href=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/1680252\/portia-duncan-files-250m-lawsuit-explained\/\">has sparked a $250 million lawsuit<\/a> against Suffolk County, with her biological mother alleging officials failed to protect her despite multiple warning signs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jor\u2019Dynn died in December 2025 after allegedly enduring months of extreme physical abuse and profound neglect. Authorities say the child suffered approximately 90 separate injuries before ultimately succumbing to a massive, untreated infection caused by sharp-force wounds. At the time of her death, she was reportedly living with her incarcerated father\u2019s fianc\u00e9e, Emily Kelly. Kelly, along with her mother and daughter, has been indicted in connection with Jor\u2019Dynn\u2019s murder.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to investigators, Kelly called 911 at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2025, reporting that Jor\u2019Dynn was in cardiac arrest. Emergency responders found the child unconscious and transported her to NYU Langone Hospital-Suffolk, where she was pronounced dead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An autopsy determined that Jor\u2019Dynn died from a massive untreated infection caused by sharp-force injuries. The Suffolk County Medical Examiner\u2019s Office documented approximately 90 injuries on her body, prompting a homicide investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to <em>CBS News<\/em>, Portia Duncan, Jor\u2019Dynn\u2019s mother, and the attorneys representing her daughter\u2019s estate announced on July 7 their intent to file a $250 million lawsuit, accusing Suffolk County officials and the school district of ignoring repeated warning signs that could have saved the young girl\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Duncan told CBS News that she is seeking accountability and hopes the lawsuit will lead to systemic changes that prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI just want justice served for my daughter,\u201d Duncan said, according to the outlet. \u201cThey need to do more protecting of our kids because there\u2019s no other hands that she should have been in than mine. I might have been an addict, but I was a damn good mother.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jor\u2019Dynn had previously been removed from Portia Duncan\u2019s custody because of substance abuse and mental health concerns before being placed in Kelly\u2019s home, where prosecutors allege she was subjected to months of torture.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The notice of claim alleges that Suffolk County failed to properly vet Kelly before placing Jor\u2019Dynn in her care and failed to adequately monitor the child\u2019s well-being. It also accuses the school district of failing to report chronic absenteeism after Jor\u2019Dynn missed approximately 40 days of school in 2025. According to the lawsuit, when she did attend school, she allegedly wore heavy makeup to conceal her injuries.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"9\">\n<h3 id=\"h-7-kenneka-jenkins\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. <strong>Kenneka Jenkins<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 19-year-old Chicago resident was found dead inside a walk-in freezer at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, on Sept. 10, 2017. She attended a party at the hotel on Sept. 9 and went missing early the previous morning. Security footage showed her heavily intoxicated and stumbling through the hallways before entering an unmonitored kitchen area near the freezer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> The Cook County Medical Examiner ruled her death an accident caused by hypothermia, with alcohol and topiramate (a prescription migraine medication) intoxication acting as major contributing factors. Her mother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the hotel for failing to secure the area and monitor the cameras<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newsone.com\/4746114\/kenneka-jenkins-family-settlement-reached\/\">, resulting in a $6 million settlement in late 2023.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"10\">\n<h3 id=\"h-8-kendrick-johnson\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. <strong>Kendrick Johnson<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 17-year-old high school student was <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/newsone.com\/5844790\/kendrick-johnson-death-anniversary\/\">found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat<\/a> in the gym of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, on Jan. 11, 2013. Investigators initially concluded that he accidentally fell headfirst into the center of the vertical mat while trying to retrieve a shoe, got stuck, and died from positional asphyxia. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His family strongly disputed the accidental ruling, alleging that he was murdered by white classmates and that local authorities covered up the crime. Despite multiple state, federal, and independent reviews that found no definitive evidence of homicide or a cover-up, the case remains a subject of public debate and ongoing legal battles, including a massive lawsuit that<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/atlanta\/news\/federal-judge-dismisses-1-billion-lawsuit-by-parents-of-georgia-teen-found-dead-in-gym-mat\/\"> was dismissed by a federal judge in 2026.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"listicle-slide\" data-page-number=\"11\">\n<h3 id=\"h-9-lennon-lacy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. <strong>Lennon Lacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"\/>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 17-year-old high school football player was found hanging from a trailer park swing set in Bladenboro, North Carolina, on Aug. 29, 2014. State medical examiners ruled his death a suicide, but his family and the NAACP pushed back, fearing he had been lynched due to racial tensions surrounding his relationship with an older white woman. They pointed to discrepancies at the scene, including white sneakers found on his feet that did not belong to him. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Per <em>WECT 6<\/em>, a comprehensive FBI investigation<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wect.com\/2021\/01\/20\/lennon-lacy-fbi-file-how-authorities-determined-suicide-not-lynching\/\"> eventually upheld the suicide ruling<\/a>, citing interview files where a close friend stated Lacy was grieving a relative, was depressed over a recent breakup, and had previously expressed suicidal ideation, but questions about his death still linger. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>RELATED CONTENT: <a href=\"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/1680252\/portia-duncan-files-250m-lawsuit-explained\/\">\u2018I Was A Damn Good Mother\u2019 \u2014 Jor\u2019Dynn Duncan\u2019s Mom, Portia Duncan, Blasts CPS After Daughter\u2019s Alleged Torture, Files $250 Million Lawsuit<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Screenshot credits: Jor\u2019Dynn Duncan \/ News12, To\u2019Nea Miller \/ NBC6, Kenneka Jenkins \/ WGN-TV, Juliana Nzita \/ GoFundMe. The death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells has reignited calls across the Black community for greater urgency in protecting Black children, teens and young adults across the country. For decades, Black youth in the United States have&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3702,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/madamenoire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2026\/07\/image-collage-14.jpg?quality=80&strip=all&w=1680&crop=0,0,100,960px","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3701"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3701\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3702"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}