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Missing Belhaven man's body found in river, sheriff confirms

Judge issues restraining order, calls for autopsy
Ross Adams
Investigative Reporter
Missing Belhaven man's body found in river, sheriff confirms

Judge issues restraining order, calls for autopsy

MUSEUM TRAIL NEAR THE SPOT WHERE HE WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE. THE LAWRENCE COUNTY SHERIFF CONFIRMS THE BODY IS DAU MABIL. NOW HIS FAMILY IS SPEAKING OUT AS ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING THE FAMILY RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MAN'S DISAPPEARANCE 0627 5:09-5:16 <IT HAS BEEN DEVASTATING NEWS IN MY FAMILY WHEN I HEAR THAT MY BROTHER WENT MISSING.> THE FAMILY OF A BELHAVEN MAN MISSING FOR ALMOST A MONTH FACING THE POSSIBILITY THAT HE WON'T BE COMING BACK HOME AFTER A BODY TURNED UP IN THE PEARL RIVER MORE THAN 60 MILES FROM WHERE HE WAS LAST SEEN. 0627 6:47-6:55 BUL MABIL/BROTHER <AND I BELIEVE THAT BODY IS THE BODY OF MY BROTHER DAU. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE WANT TO DENY THAT BUT THAT IS THE BODY OF MY BROTHER.> DAU WAS LAST SEEN WALKING ON MUSEUM TRAIL MARCH 25TH WHERE THE FAMILY AND THEIR ATTORNEYS HELD A THURSDAY NEWS CONFERENCE. 0627 1:20-1:29 LISA ROSS/FAMILY ATTORNEY <WE BELIEVE WE ARE STANDING IN THE PLACE WHERE DAU MABIL MAY HAVE TAKEN HIS LAST STEPS AND WHERE HE FOUGHT FOR HIS LIFE.> ACCORDING TO THE LAWRENCE COUNTY SHERIFF SOCIAL MEDIA POST AUTOPSY PERFORMED ON THE REMAINS DID NOT REVEAL ANY TYPE OF FOUL PLAY. BUT THE FAMILY AND THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL ARE RAISING QUESTIONS. 0627 8:23-8:32 CARLOS TANNER/FAMILY ATTORNEY <WE HAVE UNCOVERED A LOT OF EXTREMELY STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING MR. MABIL'S DISAPPEARANCE 0627 16:57-17:00 <THAT'S WHY I NEED FURTHER INVESTIGATION.> BUL MABIL SAYS IT'S STRANGE DAU'S WIFE KARISSA BOWLEY NEVER NOTIFIED HIM THAT HIS BROTHER WAS MISSING. 0627 16:38-16:52 <THAT IS MY BROTHER WENT MISSING SHE COULD HAVE CALLED ME. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE RED FLAGS FOR ME. THAT PERHAPS MAYBE THAT THEY HAVE AN ARGUMENT IF THEY DID, THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED MY BROTHERS DISAPPEARANCE.> ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS WORKING FOR THE FAMILY, SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SUGGESTS SOMETHING HAPPENED TO DAU ON THE WALKING TRAIL. 0626 12:54-13:01 < ONE PERSON COULD NOT HANDLE THE BODY ALONE. THE INDIVIDUALS AND MOM AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT THERE WERE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED IN MOVING DAU'S BODY FROM THE TRAIL.> THIS MORNING A JUDGE GRANTED THE FAMILY A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM CREMATING OR BURYING DAU'S BODY UNTIL AN AUTOPSY HAS BEEN PERFORMED BY THE STATE MEDICAL EXAMINER. THE JUDGE ALSO GAVE THE FAMILY THE OPTION
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Missing Belhaven man's body found in river, sheriff confirms

Judge issues restraining order, calls for autopsy
Ross Adams
Investigative Reporter
After weeks of searching, a missing Belhaven man has been found. The body of Dau Mabil was found April 13 in the Pearl River in Lawrence County, according to Sheriff Ryan "Hoss" Everett. During a court hearing Thursday, a judge issued an order that prohibits burial or cremation until the state can conduct an autopsy. Mabil's wife, Karissa Bowley, did not attend the hearing.Lisa Ross, an attorney representing Mabil's brother and son, said they had been waiting for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to make an announcement confirming the body is that of Mabil, but because it took so long, they took the issue to court."His family was notified earlier (Thursday) morning," Everett said in a Facebook post. "I wanted to make sure that the notification had been done prior to any type of news release. The autopsy did not reveal any type of foul play. The official determination may be made at a later time, pending further testing."Last month, Bowley said her husband had last been seen on March 25, when he left his home in Belhaven Heights to go on a walk. She said he left his phone at home, which wasn't unusual. Video: Belhaven man went for a walk and disappeared, according to his wifeBowley and members of the community had been looking for Mabil ever since. "People have been looking for him, but he's not alive. He's not. He's not alive," said Bul Garang Mabil. Attorneys said there is evidence, including video, that shows that the last place Dau Mabil was seen alive was on the Museum Trail in Jackson, where Ross said he fought for his life. "We want to make sure that whoever harmed Dau is brought to justice," Ross said.U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate. Anyone with information, or that saw anything in the area on the afternoon of March 25, is asked to call law enforcement and report it.
JACKSON, Miss. —

After weeks of searching, a missing Belhaven man has been found.

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The body of Dau Mabil was found April 13 in the Pearl River in Lawrence County, according to Sheriff Ryan "Hoss" Everett.

During a court hearing Thursday, a judge issued an order that prohibits burial or cremation until the state can conduct an autopsy. Mabil's wife, Karissa Bowley, did not attend the hearing.

Lisa Ross, an attorney representing Mabil's brother and son, said they had been waiting for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety to make an announcement confirming the body is that of Mabil, but because it took so long, they took the issue to court.

"His family was notified earlier (Thursday) morning," Everett said in a Facebook post. "I wanted to make sure that the notification had been done prior to any type of news release. The autopsy did not reveal any type of foul play. The official determination may be made at a later time, pending further testing."

Last month, Bowley said her husband had last been seen on March 25, when he left his home in Belhaven Heights to go on a walk. She said he left his phone at home, which wasn't unusual.

Video: Belhaven man went for a walk and disappeared, according to his wife

Bowley and members of the community had been looking for Mabil ever since.

"People have been looking for him, but he's not alive. He's not. He's not alive," said Bul Garang Mabil.

Attorneys said there is evidence, including video, that shows that the last place Dau Mabil was seen alive was on the Museum Trail in Jackson, where Ross said he fought for his life.

"We want to make sure that whoever harmed Dau is brought to justice," Ross said.

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.

Anyone with information, or that saw anything in the area on the afternoon of March 25, is asked to call law enforcement and report it.