Nationwide — Anita Drake, the African American mother of 21-year-old Omar Drake who was found dead near train tracks in Jackson, says she was told his murder case had been closed, but police insist it is still open. The conflicting information has left her searching for answers and accountability.
Omar’s body was discovered in October 2024 near train tracks on North State Street. Investigators said he suffered trauma to his upper body, and the case was treated as a homicide from the start.
The case moved forward months later when police identified a suspect. Police issued an arrest warrant for Camren Trevon Miley in connection with the killing. Miley later turned himself in and was released on a $100,000 bond.
As the investigation dragged on, Anita Drake said she struggled to get updates. She reached out to the Attorney General’s Office, hoping to get more information about her son’s case, but the response only raised more questions.
She said someone from the office told her the case had already been closed in September 2025. She also said she never received any official notice, which made the situation more frustrating.
“He was just another case thrown to the side like he’s nothing. He was human. He was my child,” Anita Drake told WLBT.
Determined to understand what happened, Drake said she kept asking for details. She spoke with a man she identified as Mr. McCollumn, who told her the case could only be reopened if new evidence surfaced or if someone came forward.
Police tell a different story. Detective Tommie Brown with the Jackson Police Department said the case has not been closed. The department referred further questions to the Hinds County District Attorney’s Office, which has not responded.
“They gave me a call back, and that’s when I was told my son’s case was closed back in September of 2025. No one notified me; that was another slap in my face. I was like, I lost my son twice. I lost him to murder, then I lost him to the system,” Anita Drake said.
Despite the conflicting information, Drake said she will keep pushing for answers. She is also calling for more transparency, not just for her son, but for other families still waiting for justice.