Mother files wrongful death claim after son dies in Hinds County jail

The mother of Mielun Butler, an 18-year-old inmate who died after being beaten at the Hinds County Detention Center, has filed a wrongful death claim against the sheriff’s office. Janice Bradley and her attorney, Dennis Sweet III, held a news conference Thursday to demand a full accounting of the events leading to Butler’s death.

Video footage circulated on Facebook shows a person wearing black sandals stomping on Butler’s limp and bloodied body, while someone appears to instruct him to say, “Long live Melvin.” Bradley described her son as having a bright future, noting he recently graduated from Lanier High School and worked at Wendy’s. She said Butler intended to study business at Hinds Community College.

Authorities said Butler, charged with killing Melvin Edwards at a south Jackson apartment complex, was held on a $1 million bond set during his July 2 court appearance. The Hinds County coroner reported that Butler had shoe prints on his head. Sheriff Tyree Jones announced that a detention officer was placed on administrative leave following the incident, as investigations into the death continue. Jones also stated that the FBI has been contacted due to preliminary findings and allegations related to the case.

Sweet questioned how a cellphone recording the beating was brought into the jail and emphasized that Butler fought for his life. He criticized the notion that Butler deserved to die because of his charges and called for a federal investigation. The sheriff’s office has not disclosed details about a recent lockdown at the jail or the nature of its operations.

Bradley expressed her desire for justice and highlighted that six people died at the jail last year, including from overdoses and violence. She chose not to watch the video of her son’s death to avoid remembering him that way. The case has drawn attention amid ongoing concerns about jail conditions and accountability in Hinds County.

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