LESTER WELLS Jr - 15 yo - Hate Crime? - Cahokia (S of St. Louis) IL

Cahokia IL ---- Mayor Frank Bergman spoke out Friday afternoon to
assure the community that every step is being taken by law enforcement
to investigate the apparent suicide of a Cahokia teen.The mayor
is the latest official to address rumors circulated in the community
after the death of Lester Wells Jr., 15, who police said hanged himself
from an old railroad trestle near his home. Bergman appeared with
three members of the religious community, who were concerned that
nearly two weeks later, rumors surrounding the teen's death have
polarized the community.
Cahokia police have turned over all evidence of the case to the FBI,
Bergman said, but he does not know if the FBI has agreed to investigate.
The mayor said he is open to any agency investigating the matter, for
the sake of transparency, and will make all findings public."Over
the past four, five days, there's been many questions, concerns and
issues raised as we have moved forward," Bergman said. "Right now I want
the community to rest assured that we are acting and actively
patrolling our community. And that at no time will any crime,
discriminatory or hate crime, be tolerated against anyone..."Lester's
family and others in the community have said they do not believe Lester
killed himself and that his death was the result of a hate crime. They
believe other teens have been killed or threatened.His body was
discovered by a levee district employee about 7:30 a.m. April 25 hanging
off a bridge behind the Cahokia Police Department shooting range at 600
Levin Drive, according to Cahokia police.Bergman said Friday he
is confident Cahokia police conducted an aggressive and thorough
investigation, and he stands by their findings. Lester's death
was ruled a suicide by the St. Clair County coroner's office, which has
not done an autopsy. Funeral arrangements for Lester are pending.Cahokia
pastors who met with Bergman on Friday afternoon were the Revs. James
Heard of New Psalmist Church of God in Christ, Barry Simmons Sr. of New
Visions World Ministries and Frank Smith of Power Change Christian
Center."As spiritual leaders in the community, we just want to
make sure the rumors don't polarize our community," Simmons said. "We
want to help the family heal, and show the community we are working hand
in hand with the mayor."The Rev. Johnny Scott, head of the NAACP
chapter in St. Clair County, said earlier in the week that he contacted
the FBI and Cahokia Police Chief Rick Watson after hearing the rumors. Watson
has said the rumors are unfounded, and Scott agrees.Scott said
the NAACP office has received multiple anonymous calls reporting that at
least three black youth have been hanged. However, no one has filed a
formal complaint with his office about a hanging or missing person. The
Cahokia Unit School District 187 also has advised parents the rumors
are unfounded.

http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-fbi-wells-suicide-race-rumor-050510,0,7116011.story
snipped

CAHOKIA, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -

The FBI is now reviewing the death of a 15 year old
Cahokia boy who police say committed suicide by hanging himself. The
case has led to several racially charged rumors spreading throughout
Cahokia, IL.

An FBI spokesperson tells FOX 2 News that investigators are looking for
any kind of hate crime or civil rights violations. Cahokia Police Chief
Rick Watson hopes the FBI involvement will help stop the rumor mill.

15-year-old Lester Wells was found on April 25th hanging from a Cahokia
railroad bridge behind a law enforcement firing range. Chief Watson says
there were no signs of foul play and he believes Wells committed
suicide.

Wells parents don't think their son killed himself. Since the incident,
several rumors with racial overtones have spread around Cahokia.Among
them, accusations of white supremacists terrorizing African American
families and charges that three other African American boys had been
found hanged with possible KKK involvement.

i read that the fbi ruled it was a suicide but it was on topix - just checking other sources before moving to resolved

Two weeks after her son's death, Crystal Teague confirmed that the bed sheet used in the hanging came from her house. Her dogs used to sleep on it. Police reports state several times that the body showed no bruises, scratches or any signs of struggle. The boy's clothes were not dirty or torn. Detectives also noted no drag marks or footprints in the area to suggest that other subjects had been present.

http://www.thephora.net/forum/archive/index.php/t-63285.html

Poster's note: I was wondering about the striped bed sheet. That would have been my first thing to look for.