Yo Gotti and Roc Nation’s philanthropic arm Team Roc are covering the funeral and autopsy expenses of Chadarion Henderson, a prisoner who was found dead at Parchman prison earlier this month.
Henderson, a 26-year-old father of three, was relocated to the controversial Mississippi prison to finish out the rest of his sentence last month. However, on Aug. 1, less than two weeks after his arrival to Parchman, he was found dead.
According to Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton, Henderson appeared to have died by hanging and his death was initially thought to be a suicide. However, his mother Cheryl says he contacted her before his death saying he feared for his life inside the prison. His mother has repeatedly tried to receive further information about his death, but to no avail.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is currently investigating Henderson’s death. Team Roc is set to pay for an independent doctor to conduct an autopsy so that his mother and family can get more answers.
“The Henderson family deserves immediate answers regarding the circumstances around Chadarion’s sudden death as a 26-year-old,” Team Roc Managing Director Dania Diaz in a statement. “The lack of clarity and accountability is appalling, and it’s no coincidence that the Mississippi Department of Corrections has averaged eight deaths per month since Dec. 2019. This is an absolute tragedy.”
Gotti, on the other hand, will cover the cost of Henderson’s funeral.
“Chadarion Henderson’s unexplained death inside Parchman is the latest example of how that prison continues to fail to protect its incarcerated population,” the rapper said. “My heart goes out to the Henderson family – they deserve sympathy and an opportunity to get closure. I’m committed to doing my part to cover the family’s funeral expenses and make sure Chadarion is remembered by his loved ones in a respectable and dignified way.”
According to the Mississippi Department of Corrections, there have been at least 52 prisoner deaths at Parchman between December 2019 to March 2021, which is when the department stopped publicly reporting deaths.