NO CHARGES IN DEATH OF ASHLEY JEWELL

Statement from District Attorney

Atlanta- After a thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the death of Ashley “A.J.” Jewell, The Fulton County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to proceed with criminal charges against Frederick Richardson. Mr. Jewell died on October 2, 2009 following a physical altercation with Mr. Richardson outside of the Body Tap club in Atlanta. Richardson was arrested by officers from the Atlanta Police Department shortly after the incident and charged with voluntary manslaughter.

Following the initial announcement from the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office that Mr. Jewell’s death resulted from a sickle cell crisis, the family of the deceased expressed grave concern regarding the accuracy of the autopsy findings. For that reason, our office enlisted the service of two additional medical experts who specialize in the area of sickle cell diagnosis and treatment. After conducting their own analyses of the autopsy findings, the medical experts have indicated their concurrence with the initial autopsy findings concluding that Ashley Jewell died as a result of a sickle cell crisis. One of the questions also entertained by the medical experts was whether exhumation of Mr. Jewell’s body would be helpful in determining the cause of death. The experts ultimately concluded such an exhumation would serve no meaningful purpose.

The District Attorney’s Office has also independently re-interviewed each witness initially interviewed by the Atlanta Police Department in addition to other witnesses provided by the Jewell family. These recent interviews produced no evidence that Mr. Richardson was at fault in the death of Ashley Jewell. Accordingly, there will be no further action taken against Mr. Richardson at this time.

Media Contact: Yvette Brown, 404-224-0560/404-392-8867, yvette.brown@fultoncountyga.gov