Mother of Desaray Wright seeks justice

Story by Senior Investigative Reporter Shannon Taylor

On March 15, 2021, at 11:39 a.m. Weakley County dispatch received a 9-1-1 call regarding an unresponsive female of unknown age. The caller stated that they had left for the weekend and when they came home, they found her. The caller said that the female was not breathing. That female was 24-year-old Desaray Wright, daughter of Patricia Southerland from Martin.

Wright was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m. and her manner of death was listed as “pending investigation” on the death certificate, but over a year after her death, her mother, who was told initially that Wright had suffered from a fentanyl overdose, has still been seeking answers.

The case remains open today and Southerland attributes that to her persistence in finding answers to what she says was a brutal homicide involving more than just one individual.

The incident report from Martin Police Department stated that on March 15, 2021, police were dispatched to 110 Highland Avenue in reference to a call by Jerry Crosby about an unresponsive female. Weakley County Medical Examiner Rick Workman was contacted to assist.

The press received a copy of Wright’s toxicology report which showed a potentially toxic combination of drugs. At the time of her death, she had 4-ANPP, amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl and nor fentanyl in her system. 4-ANPP is a precursor chemical used in the production of fentanyl.

The toxicology summary report by Dr. Thomas Deering, Deputy Chief Medical Examiner states that Wright was “found dead in her bed at a residence that was not her own.” It further stated that Wright’s body was found by the occupants when they returned. The residents of the house stated she was last seen on Saturday afternoon between 1-3 p.m. and that they had left Saturday afternoon and didn’t return until a later date.

The report went on to say that after review of scene photographs, as well as investigator notes, that Wright was found “nude, supine and with her arms and hands above her head and her legs spread in a “V” pattern underneath the covers.”

The residents stated that Wright did not live there but had asked if she could stay there and the residents stated that they were unaware if she had company over while they were gone. The report stated that Wright had a long history of illicit drug use.

An autopsy examination was conducted and revealed no significant trauma and no x-rays were taken. Deering stated that, “In my opinion, the best cause of death is acute combined multiple drug intoxication. The manner of death is accident.”

The Medical Examiner report, signed by Deering, stated cause of death as “acute combined multiple drug intoxication (fentanyl, methamphetamine, morphine).”

Southerland, however, is convinced that her daughter’s death was not an accident. She says that although Wright had issues with drugs in the past, that she had been getting better and staying away from the people she used to hang out with.

Southerland became frustrated with the investigation and started doing her own research and that’s what she’s been doing for the past 21 months. In April of this year, Southerland filed a civil suit with circuit court naming two people, as well as “John Does 1-20” for the wrongful death of Wright.

John Does 1-20 refers to any unknown persons, firms, corporations or other entities who contributed to Wright’s death or other damages listed in Southerland’s petition. The petition states that “On March 13, 2021, Mrs. Southerland tried to contact her daughter, but was unable to reach her. So, she started driving around the town of Martin looking for her. By chance, she drove past one of the accused homes and saw men putting boxes into a van. Unbeknownst to her, Desaray was lying dead inside the house.”

The petition goes on to state that, because of the drugs found in Wright’s system, that one could infer that illegal activity was going on inside the house she died in, making it a “proverbial crack house.”

The petition goes on to state that it’s common for drug dealers to cut controlled substances with fentanyl, which is a deadly opiate and it’s believed that the accused provided Wright with methamphetamine laced with fentanyl, causing her death. It also states that while Wright was high, she was unable to consent to sexual activity, and that it was believed by Southerland that her daughter was assaulted by the accused and that one or more of her bones was broken as a result. Southerland requested x-rays to be taken of her daughter, but none were taken.

The causes of action listed in the petition are negligence, gross negligence, negligence per se, assault and battery, wrongful death and civil conspiracy. The reasoning for these are listed as the accused knowing the effects of fentanyl and giving it anyway, exploiting Wright sexually and causing her wrongful death.

Southerland is requesting relief in the amount of $10,000 for compensatory damages, $40,000 in punitive damages as well as any attorney and court fees. The lawsuit was served on one of the accused, but the Sheriff’s office has not been able to locate the other accused to serve the papers.

When the Press reached out to the lead investigator at Martin PD on Wright’s case, Lieutenant James Hatler, we received a statement from Chief of Police Don Teal stating, “The Desaray Wright case is still an open case with the Martin Police Department. We are still checking any leads that we receive in an attempt to solve this open case. We will continue to be diligent in these efforts until there is an absolute conclusion. We need solid information and intelligence in regard to this incident. If anyone in the public has information about this incident, please contact the Martin Police Department at (731) 587-5355 or you may call through Crime Stoppers at (731) 587-2611 if you would like to remain anonymous.”

Southerland has been working tirelessly to put to rest what really happened to her daughter. She said that Wright loved her brother, sister and daughter more than anything in the world and that she is missed by everyone. Southerland said that she won’t give up until her daughter’s killer (s) are brought to justice-only then will she have peace.