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Many attendees of a rally at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, carried signs that protested conditions in prisons where inmates have been killed in violent clashes in recent weeks, Friday . He was serving a 17-year sentence for manslaughter inMarshall County. Two additional inmates were killed with others injured earlier this week. Phil Bryant did not respond to a request for comment about the violence. Officials said they would not name the gangs for security reasons. ", Prison officials added that open bay housing units are a challenge to manage because not all inmates are secure in single cells. You should anticipate that the Senate will also be devoting a lot of time to this issue.". Those who had contacted their loved ones had done so via contraband cellphones, which are widely used in Parchman. Over the last 10 days, five inmates were killed in different Mississippi state prisons. At full capacity, Parchman houses 3,560 male inmates, including death row inmates housed in Unit 29. Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton confirmed an additional death Thursday morning related to a gang fight in Unit 29 at Parchman. The violence is exacerbated because of a staffing shortage, she said. https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2020/01/03/parchman-riot-fifth-inmate-killed-mississippi-violence-lockdown/2803056001/, Parchman riot: 'Gangs are at war.' None had any formal confirmation from MDOC, despite making calls. In her son's building at Parchman, there is only one guard, who has worked many hours without a break, she said. They and others like John Lewis ended up at the infamous Parchman Prison in Mississippi. January 8, 2020: Parchman inmate died at Merit Health Clarksdale. In June 2021, Hilson was charged with violating the inmate's civil . Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton said Denorris Howell, 36, was pronounced dead about 3:20 a.m. Friday at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Candice Dobbins is the sister of 40-year-old Terrandance Dobbins, who was the first inmate to die. Five inmates have died at Parchman since the beginning of the new year . Mississippi State Penitentiary (MSP), also known as Parchman Farm, is a maximum-security prison farm located in unincorporated Sunflower County, Mississippi, in the Mississippi Delta region. The second was 26-year-old Gregory Emary, who was killed at Chickasaw County Regional Correctional Facility in Houston.Roosevelt HollimanCourtesy of MDOC. The outgoing governor, Phil Bryant, has acknowledged the fiscal problems but blamed inmates for the January violence. The inmates are the ones that take each others lives, he told reporters. It said officers noted Carmen was throwing feces against a cellblock hallway wall. Parchman inmates have been moved to "more secure housing units on prison grounds" to contain the violence. In addition, the department has a pastoral and crisis ministry which includes spiritual guidance counseling during a crisis or grieving period. MDOC releases statement after latest fatal prison fight, Mississippi corrections commissioner departing mid-January, that killed inmate Terrandance Dobbins, 40. The unit has 1,568 beds and houses some of the system's worst offenders. On Friday, MDC lifted a statewide prison lockdown but excluded Parchman, where more than 3,000 inmates are held. This undated photo taken by an inmate at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman and provided to The Associated Press shows inmates seen lying on the floor next to a full toilet. The environment that makes such violence possible must be addressed quickly, and we are committed to making changes to do so.. He felt unsafe at South Mississippi Correctional Institution, she said. 2. When I was governor, I let a lot of people out, I commuted their sentences, because they were in wheelchairs, they're dying, they have some terrible disease. Reeves also announced last week that he was forming a group of diverse, experienced Mississippians to conduct a nationwide search for a permanent Commissioner, and that he will assign an officer from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations to look into possible criminal misconduct at Parchman. At least three of the previous deaths were attributed to violence, the DOC said in a tweet. The lawsuit names three prison inmates who were killed this year at the state penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi. "They attempted to enter the cell, but the cell lock was jammed from the inside with a pipe the offender had removed from the toilet," the statement said. It was just total chaos.. "There have been many studies and efforts to stem violence and improve the pay of corrections officers," she said in an email. Parchman, where roughly 3,600 of Mississippis 19,000 inmates are incarcerated, has been the target of intense criticism over its failing infrastructure and recent deaths. Both appear to have died from blunt force beating injuries, Burton said. "It seems more needs to be done.". including the use of permanent solitary confinement. Phil Bryant did not respond to a request for comment about the violence. Inmates killed during Mississippi's prison violence: Who are they? Rumors circulated on social media by inmates and families of additional killings at Parchman in recent days are not true, Burton said, but she added the situation inside the prison remained "volatile" on Friday. MDOC said all state prisons will remain on lockdown until further notice. Two prisoners were killed at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman on Monday night. Dobbins said she's been warned that violence has spread. Walter Gates, 25, was stabbed and several other inmates were injured Tuesday at Parchman during a fight that spread . JACKSON, Miss. on May 19, 2010. Harry said she was particularly concerned as her partner is in a wheelchair following back surgery. Este servicio puede tener una cuota de procesamiento de 100%. Meanwhile, more unrest appears to be brewing at the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, where an inmate was confirmed dead after a warden put out a call for help from law enforcement agencies Thursday. Going forward, obviously the governor will have to appoint a new head of corrections. Five inmates were killed and an undisclosed number of others inmates were injured during an outbreak of violence in Mississippi's prison system between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3. "Because there's nothing I can do. Officials at the prison are continuing to investigate the incident. (WLBT) - Officials with the Mississippi Department of Corrections say there were two homicides in a two-week span at one of the state's prisons. The state has cut its overall spending on prisons over the past several years, the news outlet reported, even as the number of inmates has stayed the same. " We just can't have people sleeping on the floors, not getting food, not getting water. The Parchman chaplain has reached out to the next of kin," the organization said . Two other injured inmates were transported to hospitals. "Contrary to what is being said, we are providing information. The crisis is expected to dominate the next legislative session, which begins this month. The troubles began Sunday at South Mississippi Correctional Institution near Leakesville, when inmate Terradance Dobbins, 40, was killed and two others hurt. GerondaSue Skinner-Holmes said her son was stabbed in the eye on New Year's Eve during a fight at Parchman. It confirmed the five deaths but did not offer identities of the deceased. Three of those five deaths were at Parchman. "Things are kind of surreal at this point," Burton said. One was a stabbingat Parchman. or redistributed. Cellphone video taken from inside Parchman shows multiple police units on scene at the facility. Since July 2019, seven prisoners have been killed by fellow inmates at what is supposed to be the most secure facility in the state. At 9 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2020, the Mississippi Department of Corrections tweeted about the incident. Burton said the inmate, whom she declined to identify pending notification of relatives, had multiple stab wounds. Corrections officials transported about 375 inmates from Unit 29 to a nearby prison earlier this month, and the DOC said on January 13 that it was seeking cells for 625 more prisoners because of Unit 29s unsafe conditions. At the Marshall County Correctional Facility in Holly Springs, another inmate, 38-year-old Jermaine Tyler, was found dead on Saturday evening. After the unrest, Mississippi signed an emergency contract to move 375 of those inmates to a private prison nearby. 662-745-6611. Another inmate was stabbed in the 3 a.m. Friday incident and taken to a Memphis, Tennessee, hospital. On Friday evening, he posted about the situation on social media, saying he'd been in contact with prison officials throughout the week. It was the third death at Parchman since New Year's Day, and the fifth killing at all Mississippi state prisons in less than a week. These guys are over here doing that as we speak.'". MDOC didn't notify her of his injury for days, she said, and her son might lose an eye. January 3, 2020: One inmate killed at Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Sen. Lydia Chassaniol, R-Winona, who also serves on the Corrections Committee, agreed guard pay was a central part of the problem. Their compensation is not adequate. "It is about to kill me," Tangie Viars said. The number of correctional officers at MDOC has plummeted in recent years, according to a recent report by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting. "I guess you have to be affiliated to live," she said.Elected officials respond. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He claimed to have been escorted by armed state officers when he was released on 8 January, due to ongoing safety concerns. All rights reserved. Inmate caught . Roosevelt Holliman, 32, was killed in what Burton said was a gang-related riot. Sunflower County Coroner Heather Burton said Friday the three killings in three days at Parchman is "unprecedented" in her 12 years in office. The Greene County prison can pose particular difficulties to secure because hundreds of prisoners are housed in bunks in one large room, instead of in individual cells. news & media. I don't want to be on the phone to hear my son dying or my son being stabbed to death.". Howell, who was serving a 17-year sentence for manslaughter, was stabbed to death during a fight at the prison, authorities said. He was serving a five-year sentence at the facility for armed robbery. Thirty-four-year-old Bobby Deangelo . Parchman is the same prison that had three deaths from Dec. 29 to Jan. 3. Adems pagan precios ms altos a la comisara por el jabn que necesitan para lavarse las manos con mayor frecuencia. Two additionalinmates were killed withothers injured earlier this week. "These are trying times for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Some inside the prison told Skinner-Holmes to check in on her son, who is housed in Unit 29, where much of the violence has centered. Write to Josiah Bates at josiah.bates@time.com. The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Besides Howell, Terrandance Dobbins, 40, was killed Sunday at South Mississippi. The agency announced Thursday that prisons will be remain locked down. All Rights Reserved. Hall said she is going to work in the private sector and will be advocating for criminal justice reform. Following rioting earlier this month, it was reopened. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. Howell, who was serving a 17-year sentence for manslaughter, was stabbed to death during a fight at the prison, authorities said. Their compensation is not adequate. And it starts with bringing order to Parchman, Reeves said in a statement. For 48 hours it was just violence, said Mallett, who served an eight-year sentence for a non-violent drug crime. Two more inmates were killed at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman, the Mississippi Department of Corrections announced Tuesday, bringing the death toll at prisons up to . Market data provided by Factset. JACKSON, Miss. Nobody should live like [the inmates] do, Scott said. Walter Gates, 25,diedearly Wednesdayduring ariotat Parchman. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Joshua Norman, 26, was found hanging in his cell in Mississippi State Penitentiary's Unit 29 during a Sunday morning security check. The Mississippi department of corrections (MDC) declined to respond to multiple requests for comment and has not provided a public total for the number injured during the unrest. "Grateful to those working to restore order and safety," he wrote on social media. Between December 29 and January 3, five Mississippi inmates were killed and an undisclosed number of others were injured in violence inside the prisons 2023 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I pray for a peaceful resolution to the situation to be found soon," she said. Prison officials added thatopen bay housing units are a challenge to manage because not all inmates are secure in single cells. The Mississippi Department of Corrections said in a statement Tuesday the two inmates died from injuries sustained during a fight Monday night at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman . Parchman, MS 38738 (662) 745-6611 . locked down prisons statewide after an inmate was killed, Violence surges amid guard shortage at Mississippi prison, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Two inmates also escaped from Parchman on Jan. 3 and were captured on Jan. 6. Ben Salk, senior staff attorney at the Southern Poverty Law Center, said that's nothing new. "We have people in our prison system who don't need to be there, who are not threats, who are not dangerous," Barbour said. Cell phone owner case for samsung galaxy s3 mini ebay search email by facebook id: criminal records form delaware county pa public land inmate killed in parchman ms. Credit check companies for landlords phone best reverse address lookup reverse, training and development job youth with disabilities top online divorce programs, access court . Follow @AlissaZhu on Twitter.Published 5:56 PM EST Jan 4, 2020. All rights reserved. In 1971, Parchman inmates filed a class action la suit (Gates v . She said he died of multiple stab wounds. Calls for prison reform in Mississippi after inmate murders and escapes. Two inmates were killed at Mississippi State Penitentiary after an altercation, the state Department of Corrections and county coroner said Tuesday. (WLBT) - Two inmates were killed at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. When she visited him, he often talked about opening a salon and barbershop with her. MDOC didn't notify her of his injury for days, she said, and her son might lose an eye. Thomas Edwin Loden Jr . Five inmates died this month in notorious Mississippi prison marked by racism and neglect prisoners and families demand urgent reform, People were begging for their lives as they were stabbed, said Kelly Mallett, as his gaze drifted. Those on death row will stay at Parchman unless there's a change to state law requiring them . James Talley, 36, suffered fatal injuries Monday night during an altercation and was pronounced dead at the prison, the DOC said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Skinner-Holmes said she contacted prison officials to try to learn more, but she hasn't gotten much information. The inmate had escaped from his cell-block and stabbed Officer Cotton to death with a shank. A spokeswoman for Gov. Updated on: January 20, 2020 / 6:12 PM Since 2019, 10 inmates have been killed at Parchman, the result of an inadequate number of staff or ill-trained employees who were unable to stop violence, properly search inmates for contraband . In January 1901 the state of Mississippi purchased land in Sunflower County for a prison. "Roosevelt Holliman was stabbed to death in a fight the . The prisoners were evacuated and later moved back in, she added. Theresa Holliman calls for change at the Parchman. Sunflower County Sheriff James Haywood and Burton have described the violence as related to a dispute between members of gangs, but officials with the Mississippi Department of Corrections haven't said what's driving the violence. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nothing but violence, before any help.. "He said, 'Mama, I just want to let you know I love you.' Inmates and their families have contactedmedia including the Clarion Ledger, sending photos and videos and claiming violence is unchecked and smoke from fires has madeit hard to breathe. The Mississippi Department of Corrections said the fight was not related to the recent killings within the prison system. "Two inmates were killed in Parchman last night. Melvin Hilson, 49, a former deputy warden at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, which is also known as Parchman, pleaded guilty today to violating an inmate's civil rights in 2016. Over the phone, she said she heard the wail of sirens and her son's screams. SUNFLOWER COUNTY, Miss. "Things are kind of surrealat this point," Burtonsaid. Normans death brings the total number of inmates who have died in Mississippi Department of Corrections custody to a total of 12 so far for the yearand January is not even finished. Five inmates were killed and an undisclosed number of others inmates were injured during an outbreak of violence in Mississippi's prison system between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3. Officials claim that only four of the deaths were related to "major disturbances," or riots. That compares to four inmate killings in the prior eight years. Prison deaths:Inmates killed during Mississippi's prison violence: Who are they? Inmate Search. Correctional officer pay is "one of" the major problems at the state's prisons "without question," he said. Food had been as little as a slice of bread. Another inmate stabbed in the same incident Friday was taken to a Memphis, Tenn., hospital. Correctional officer pay is "one of" the major problems at the state's prisons "without question," he said. We are continuing to be vigilant and mindful of the situation," MDOC Commissioner Pelicia Hall said in a Friday statement. Then we need answers and justice on the people who perpetrated this violence. Two inmates were killed at Mississippi State Penitentiary after an altercation, the state Department of Corrections and county coroner said Tuesday. The Clarion Ledger has not received answers to questions. (WJTV) - The Sunflower County coroner identified the second inmate who was killed at Parchman. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Three of those five . ATLANTA Prison officials in Mississippi said on Tuesday that two inmates were beaten to death at the state penitentiary in Parchman, coming after a burst of . The main suspect in the death is 35-year-old Myran. The Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) says an altercation between multiple inmates left Timothy Hudspeth, 35, and another inmate with fatal injuries. All of the 29 plaintiffs have been inmates at Parchman. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the corrections department, Mississippi Highway Patrol and surrounding county sheriff departments, responded to the request for assistance, Haygood said. Paired with understaffing and underresourcing, it's inevitable that tragic things like this are going to continue to happen.". Rumors circulated on social media by inmates and families of additional killingsat Parchman in recent days are not true, Burton said, but she addedthe situation inside the prison remained "volatile" on Friday. The legislative session begins Tuesday. Parchman is often called one of the worst prisons in America. The levels of custody at the Mississippi State Penitentiary encompass minimum security all the way to maximum and death row. In the days around New Year's, five inmates were killed in different state prisons. Correctional Officer Argentra Cotton was stabbed to death by a maximum security inmate in the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi. A Warner Bros. Hall announced she was stepping down earlier in the week as a new administration prepares to take over. Updated: Oct 6, 2020 / 05:09 PM CDT. First published on January 20, 2020 / 12:08 PM. An autopsy is underway, the AP reported. The woman asked to remain unnamed because she fears her son will be retaliated against by prison officials. Occupying about 28 square miles (73 km 2 ) of land, [3] [4] Parchman is the only maximum security prison for men in the state of Mississippi , and is the . ", "The first thing is to get the (prison) community safe," said Hosemann, who will oversee the state Senate in his new role. Jan 28, 2020. Two more inmates have been killed at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm, overnight. Dobbins said her brother Terrandance Dobbins, who was nicknamed "Boo," had been incarcerated for 22 years, his sister said. the 47-year-old inmate had spent the day receiving relatives, including one of the sisters whose two children were . His body is at the state crime lab in Pearl undergoing autopsy. Its the latest deadly incident at the prison, which has been dealing with stretches of violence in the past few weeks. JACKSON, Miss. Hall previously said the state saved about $40 million since criminal justice legislation passed in 2014 and the incarceration rate went down somewhat. "I haven't slept, haven't eaten (since)," Skinner-Holmessaid. "Really the prisoners run the facilities," Dobbins said. Magazines, Digital Her account was supported by photographic evidence. Mondays deaths came a day before new leadership was installed at the DOC. Mississippi Department of Corrections officials have offered minimal information since locking down the prison system Sunday after an inmate was killed in a South Mississippi prison. ", Hosemann said he'svisited Parchman, including Unit 29, and talked with guards. . And Terrandance Dobbins, 40, was killed during a fight Sunday at South Mississippi Correctional Institution in Leakesville. The safety of staff and prisoners at Parchman is our immediate priority, and we are working hard to restore and maintain order, Interim MDOC Commissioner Tommy Taylor said in a statement sent to TIME. Rappers Jay-Z and Yo Gotti are paying their attorneys fees, the AP also reported. Former Gov. UPDATE: 1/21/2020 6:01 p.m. SUNFLOWER COUNTY, Miss. A primary focus of the report was Parchmans Unit 29, where some of the most violent criminals are held. Paloma Wu, a senior staff attorney with the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC), said a client she visited at Parchman on Thursday had been held in Unit 32 for about five days. On Thursday, two inmates were killed. Please enter valid email address to continue. "That's the first thing we need to do"to address the prison violence problem, he added. At the end of 2019, the number of correctional officers, 732, was fewer than half the number of guards five years earlier, according to the Mississippi State Personnel Board. The stabbing took place on the same unit at Parchman where a 32-year-old inmate was stabbed and killed Thursday in a fracas that left multiple prisoners injured. victim services home division of victim services office of mississippi savin faqs. In early December her nephew Antonio Taylor, 33, was found dead in his cell at Parchman. From 2014 to 2018, an average of 3.4 inmate deaths wereruled homicides by prison officials each year, state data shows. Thats a human being. Discovery Company. The inmate, Gabriel Carmen, had reportedly been upset and was throwing fecal matter before he died. Joshua Norman marks the ninth prisoner to die at the Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Prison, since the year started. Statewide lockdown underway as fatal fights continue. "Everybody's still human; they can't live in inhumane situations," Yo Gotti said on CBSN. They marched up two flights of stairs and stood outside Bryants office but were told by security officers he was not available to meet. To find an inmate, please enter the name OR the ID number, and then click the SEARCH button. It is never a good feeling for a commissioner to receive a call that a life has been lost, especially over senseless acts of violence., From the bench: Judge rules prison safe as violence hits system, Resigning as MDOC commissioner: Pelicia Hall to depart Mississippi's troubled prison systemMDOC responds. Most Read 2-vehicle crash on MS-588 causes . Former Commissioner Pelicia Hall stepped down this week amid widespread concerns about Parchmans violence and infrastructure woes. Emary was serving a 16-year sentence for a burglary conviction in Tate County, according to MDOC records. Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain tells reporters in the Visitation Center on the grounds of the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Miss., of the final words . "A lot of them are working two, 12-hour shifts. The letter alleged violation of constitutional rights under the eighth amendment, which safeguards against cruel and unusual punishment. Burton said rumors abound and asked for members of the public to refrain from making statements or posting on social media based off hearsay. Yo Gotti and Roc Nation to hold prison reform rally in Mississippi. MDOC'sstatementFriday wasits most substantive response yet, but remained light on details. 1:02. Two days later, a 32-year-old inmate in the same unit where Howell was residing was stabbed and killed in a fracas that left multiple prisoners injured. Skinner-Holmes said she contacted prison officials to try to learn more, but she hasn't gotten much information. Another Mississippi inmate has died at the hands of a fellow inmate this week, authorities said Friday. Another mother of a Parchman inmate hasn't heard from her son since Thursday and is sick with worry. On Thursday, two inmates werekilled. The inmates in Area I meet in the Chapel built by inmate labor and monies donated by individuals outside of the institution. Five Mississippi inmates have been killed in less than a week, including three amid violence at the state Penitentiary at Parchman, where the local coroner says "gangs are at war . 'Unprecedented' number of killings at Parchman. Everyone they could get, Haygood said of the response. In interviews with six people who had family or partners inside the facility, three said they had not heard from them since the violence began. 'Ticking time bomb':: Violence surges amid guard shortage at Mississippi prison. We get no information and no sympathy from Corrections.. For days, prison officials had refused to provide details on the violence and ignored most questions from media, with statements only describing the incidents as "major disturbances.". And you molested them. The 44-year-old is a former inmate at Mississippis crumbling state penitentiary at Parchman, part of a sprawling, century-old prison farm complex in the north of the state. Cellphones smuggled into the prisons, she said, "have been instrumental in escalating the violence.". Gabriel Carmen is seen in an undated booking photo. Sunflower County Medical Examiner and Coroner Heather H. Burton said the fight broke out at Unit 29 at the prison about 9 p.m. Tuesday and spread to other buildings within the unit. "Everything is so peaceful now, but we dont know about later," Haygood said. The last time she spoke to her son, who was originally imprisoned on a non-violent drug offense, there was a beating happening next to him, she said. "The people who perpetrated this violence will be charged and brought to justice," Bryant wrote. That same day, MDOC officials also sent more than 300 prisoners at Parchman to a private facility in Tutwiler, MS for their safety amid understaffing at the state penitentiary. MDOC has not released much information. Rogelio V. Solis/AP, FILE. In August 2018, Hall requested the FBI help investigate the deaths of 15 inmates, including three of them at Parchman, in the span of a month. Hall announced she was stepping down earlier in the week as a new administration prepares to take over. ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc. The rate of killings in Mississippi prisons over this past week is highly unusual. The latest death was Denorris Howell, 36, who was killed after sustaining a neck injury duringa fight with his cellmateearly Friday morning at Parchman, Burton said. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, 2 Inmates Killed in Mississippi Prison That Continues to Struggle With Deadly Violence. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. "Walter Gates, an inmate of Unit 29E at Parchman was stabbed multiple times the night of New Year's Eve, and pronounced dead just after midnight," the suit states. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Authorities say 38-year-old Edwin . "I can barely breathe," the mother said. Late Thursday morning, she was called in for another fatal stabbing related to a gang related riot. SMCI had been on lockdown for all of 2019 due to a severe staffing shortage, MDOC officials said. Cellphones smuggled into the prisons, she said, "have been instrumental in escalating the violence. appreciated. "The people who perpetrated this violence will be charged and brought to justice," Bryant wrote. Protestors gather outside the Mississippi state capitol. JACKSON, Miss. (AP/Mississippi Department of Corrections). . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Burton said corrections officials reported Carmen had been irate and throwing feces before his death. Kelly Mallett, recently released from the Mississippi State Penitentiary, poses outside the state capitol in Jackson. Former state lawmaker Tommy Taylor was appointed as Interim Commissioner. And it features as a haunted setting in Jesmyn Ward's National Award-winning 2017 novel "Sing, Unburied .