Rashawn Brazell: One Year Later

While many of us spend this Valentine's Day with thoughts of chocolates or roses, it's not been a pleasant week for one Brooklyn family: This is the first anniversary of the disappearance of Rashawn Brazell. There was a touching profile of the case in yesterday's New York Times, where frustrated detectives admit that they are no closer to finding the killer(s) who dismembered the teenager.

As cold cases go, Mr. Brazell's stands out, as much for the grisly way his body was disposed of as for the person his relatives and friends said he was: an energetic, grounded 19-year-old who loved music, cooking and going to clubs and who, with his résumés prepared, was set to go hunt for a job the day he disappeared.

"This victim was not leading a criminal lifestyle," said the investigator, who was not authorized to speak for attribution since the case is open. "You have to feel for that family."

Try as we might, it's almost impossible to feel the tremendous agony experienced by Desiree Brazell-Jones, Rashawn's mother. The killer(s) remains free and investigators never found a full set of remains. "I want who did this off the street, and I want the rest of my child. That's the bottom line."

Thanks to Andy for the subway photo.

A Year After a Teenager Was Dismembered, Still No Answer (NYT)

RashawnBrazell.com

Rashawn Brazell Collective (Yahoo! Groups)

Previously:

Rashawn Brazell: A Memorial (Rod 2.0) Six Months (Rod 2.0) Mother's Day Blues (Rod 2.0) Rashawn Who? (brotha2Brotha)

Comments

[James]

Says a whole lot that this young's man death has largely gone unnoticed.

peace

[raskl]

I really think that it is wonderful that you took time to mention this story.