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Attorneys for Charles Family release their toxicology report

quawan charles_redbackground.jpg
Posted at 9:52 AM, Jan 19, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-19 20:20:40-05

NEW IBERIA, La. — Attorneys for the family of Quawan Charles have released a toxicology report their hired experts conducted on his body.

The report was prepared on Dec. 2, and shows the presence of alcohol and THC, a compound found in marijuana. The report indicates the results are from tests conducted on cavity blood from Charles' body.

In a statement, the attorneys say they believe the report proves that Charles' death wasn't accidental but intentional. His cause of death was drowning, and his body was found decomposed in a shallow ditch in a cane field several days after he disappeared.

KATC reached out to the the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, who confirmed that they met with a private investigator working for the Charles family today on Jan. 19 about the case.

An IPSO spokesperson said that they have not spoken with attorneys representing the Charles family.

Police have released surveillance video that shows Charles left his father's home and was picked up by a car. The people in the car allegedly told the attorneys that Charles had been taking hallucinogens prior to his leaving them.

Charles' family attorney say the report proves that those people are lying, and "this likely proves that Quawan’s death was not the result of an accident or gross negligence, but intentional."

This is a developing story, and we will update this post as we obtain more information.

The Stand Black organization, which has followed the Charles investigation and advocated for Quawan's family released a statement Tuesday afternoon on the release of the independent toxicology report.

"Stand Black is fundamentally disturbed by the findings in the toxicology report of Quawan Charles. It is a smoking gun that suggests foul play. As advocates for the family, we are heartbroken that the family is now faced with the more insidious and underlying fact that Quawan was not under the influence of psychedelics as previously claimed. The toxicology report clearly states that what was in Quawan’s system were negligible traces of marijuana and alcohol. It is now time that the family responsible for his disappearance be brought to justice."

The group called on president-elect Joe Biden to open a federal investigation into the case. “Joe Biden was elected President due to the votes of People of Color. We are calling on President Biden to open a federal investigation into the death of Quawan Charles and the departments involved with his case,” says Jamal Taylor.