Good Day Everyone,
I pray all is well.
I just learned today, Wednesday, May 22, 2024 via a Google pop up news article that my son’s cellmate was indicted for Aggravated Murder on Wednesday, May 15, 2024… exactly a week ago today.
VADOC released a Press Release yesterday, Tuesday, May 21, 2024 regarding the indictment and praising the efforts of Commonwealth’s Attorney Brett Hall for a job well done. No one has made any attempts to contact me or my family. I found out when I opened Google to search for the link for my son’s book “The Truth, Yet I’m Not Free” to attach to a letter I was preparing to send to US Attorney Christopher Robert Kavanaugh. A letter I have just delivered via email containing the same zip file of photos showing my son’s savagely mangled body previously sent to government officials.
I have NEVER been contacted by Mr Hall. My communication was always with his Asst Attorney Ashley Belcher and then most recently Allison- a Victim’s Service Representative.
Red Onion State Prison, VADOC, Roanoke Medical Examiner’s Office and The Special Investigation’s Department have given my family and I the run around from the beginning.
Assistant Warden Dewayne Turner SPECIFICALLY advised on Friday, August 25, 2023 that he SAW my son and saw NO EVIDENCE of a fight when I asked a DIRECT question regarding whether my son’s death was the result of a fight.
Roanoke Chief Medical Examiner Dr Amy Marie Tharp SPECIFICALLY stated there were no signs of a possible cause of death noticeable to the naked eye.
Special Investigations Agent Rachel Townsend advised she was closing my son’s case when I initially spoke with her Thursday, September 28, 2023 stating her investigation was complete despite the fact that she admitted SHE HAD NEVER VIEWED MY SON’S BODY.
I spoke with Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Ashley Belcher on Thursday, October 5, 2023 who stated Agent Townsend advised her that there was no evidence of homicide!!!
I subsequently emailed a zip file of enlarged still shots of our video showing my son’s savagely beaten body to various government officials on Monday, October 30, 2023. I then received a voicemail from Rachel Townsend on Monday, November 6, 2023 advising she and her superiors decided to keep Jowell’s case open until the autopsy report was complete.
After many calls to both the Roanoke Medical Examiner’s Office and the Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney Office I received a callback on January, 3, 2024. from Ms Belcher stating my son’s murder was deemed a homicide, she had advised Dr Tharp not to release the autopsy report to me and she would call me back to go over the results. I reminded her of the condition of my son’s body when I first saw him and she replied, “I haven’t seen pictures yet or anything but I was also told that they were SURE it wasn’t a murder..uh... and.. I don’t really understand how you can see all that and be sure that it’s not a murder.” I Am still awaiting that callback to go over the autopsy report!!!
I again made multiple calls and left numerous messages from February to April. I finally received a callback from Allison, Victim’s Service Representative, Wise County Commonwealth’s Attorney advising that Julian Leon Mitchell was officially charged with Aggravated Murder. She stated that Mr Hall was attempting to get a May Grand Jury Indictment Date and they would be in contact with next steps. I DIRECTLY asked if they were seriously trying to pin this on the cellmate and whether any charges were brought against the guards. She said it looks like just Mr Mitchell was being charged.
As I initially stated, no one has contacted me regarding this latest development…just like they attempted to keep me and my family in the dark throughout this entire process. Again, I found out as I was preparing a letter to send to US Attorney Christopher Kavanaugh regarding collusion and investigation tampering.
CALL TO ACTION:
As always, I need your support!
There is a CLEAR pattern of inmate murder cover ups! The cause of death is generally either suicide, drug overdose or aggravated murder by manual strangulation pinned on an inmate already facing a life sentence!!! Julian Mitchell was already facing a 33 year sentence for murder. VADOC’s recent Press Release regarding my son’s murder is worded almost VERBATIM in at least two other inmate murder Press Releases that I have personally read!
If I had not released those photos of my son’s mangled body… AND… If you all had not lended your support… they would have ended the investigation back in October deeming my son’s death either a suicide or drug overdose.
Please contact US Attorney Kavanaugh’s office demanding an investigation into Red Onion State Prison, VADOC, Roanoke Medical Examiners Office and The Special Investigations Department regarding my son’s murder.
US Attorney’s Office Western District of Virginia
Christopher Robert Kavanaugh, US Attorney
christopher.kavanaugh@usdoj.gov
Abingdon Office:
Mailing Address:
United States Attorney’s Office
180 W. Main Street, Suite B19
Abingdon, VA 24210
Shipping Address:
United States Attorney's Office
310 Cummings Street, Suite A
Abingdon, Virginia 24210
Office: (276) 628-4161
Fax: (276) 628-7399
My family and I recognize that this process has come a long way. However, Jowell was fighting a wrongful conviction. I have no intention of standing by idly watching while the US Department of Justice attempts to convict someone other than my son’s murderer(s).
Thank you for your support! My family and I appreciate you all and are truly grateful.
Blessings