Nationwide — Tabitha Tatum, an African American mother of 23-year-old Jaylien Kimble, who died while in custody at Dyer County Jail, is calling for answers after officials opened a homicide investigation into his death. She says she wants full accountability as the case moves forward.
According to Fox 13 Memphis, Kimble turned himself in to the Dyer County Jail in Tennessee on a disorderly conduct warrant. Before entering custody, he spoke with his mother and told her he would call her again later that day.
That call never came. Hours later, Tatum said she saw a Facebook post urging families to check on inmates housed in “B pod” at the jail. Concerned, she contacted the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office to ask about her son.
She said jail officials first told her that Kimble had been taken to a hospital after she confirmed her identity as his mother. Not long after, she learned he had died. Authorities later began treating the case as a possible homicide linked to a traumatic head injury.
The Dyer County Sheriff’s Office later confirmed Kimble’s death publicly, saying he suffered a serious head injury while in custody. Officials added that the investigation is ongoing and they are still waiting for autopsy results.
Tatum described her son as full of life and deeply devoted to his family. She said he was “a very exciting person, a friendly person, a loving person who loved his family dearly.”
She also said the tragedy has been especially painful after losing a daughter to cancer two years ago. While she is currently undergoing chemotherapy herself, she said she is determined to keep pushing for answers for her son, who leaves behind two children.
Despite her grief, Tatum said she is not turning to anger. “I don’t have hate in my body. I wasn’t raised like that. I’m going to forgive them,” she said.