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Loved ones lined up in front of the stage to place personalized ornaments on wreaths to honor those loss in 2023. Pictured on the dais are (from left) Rabbi Micah Greenstein; DA Mulroy; ABC24 News Anchor Richard Ransom; and Deputy DA Paul Hagerman (at podium).
This week, our office hosted the annual Season of Remembrance ceremony to honor Shelby County homicide victims. The free event was held inside the Rose Theater on the University of Memphis campus.
"Homicide is the worst out of all of the offenses and we are going to do everything we can, in that case and every other case that we have pending, to make sure that justice is done, said DA Mulroy in his remarks from the stage. "Each name that we hear tonight, reminds us that our work isn't done."
Family and friends of victims were encouraged to bring an ornament to place on wreaths in honor of their loved ones. A tree was also decorated and centered in the middle of the stage with the names of all homicide victims from 2023. The ceremony included music selections from Stax High School alumni and a message from Senior Rabbi Micah Greenstein of Temple Israel. ABC24's anchor Richard Ransom served as Master of Ceremonies. There were over 300 people in attendance.
Stax Music Academy alumni sang holiday melodies throughout the ceremony.
Conversation on Bail
We’ve received many inquiries about the case of Edion White, an 18 year old man charged with first-degree murder and released on his own recognizance (ROR’d) this past week. Our office asked for a $75,000 bond and enrollment in the Memphis Allies program pending trial. The judge disagreed and ordered an ROR. Mr. White was not the alleged shooter but rather the driver charged as an accomplice He had no prior record, was enrolled in community college, and had members of the community vouch for him. We disagree with the judge’s decision but respect it.
There is much misinformation about bail lately:
- The DA does not set bail or decide on pretrial release versus pretrial detention. The judges and judicial commissioners do that.
- Most of the high-profile bail controversies in recent months involve decisions made by judicial commissioners or General Sessions judges themselves in the first 72 hours after arrest. This is before our office becomes involved, and once our office has become involved, those controversial decisions are nearly always against the individual prosecutor’s position.
- It is also before the provisions under recent “bail reform” gets involved. The only change to the bail system is adding a bail hearing with counsel 72 hours after arrest. Thus, these recent controversies had nothing to do with our office or the new bail system.
- The only purpose of bail is to ensure that the defendant shows up for the next court date. The Tennessee Constitution presumes the defendant be free while the case is pending (before any conviction), unless there is reason to believe the defendant poses a danger to the community or may fail to appear at the next court date.
- Most defendants on bail do not reoffend before trial. And of those that do reoffend, those make up only a small percentage of criminal offenses in a given year.
Happening in Court
Monquarios Fenster appeared in court this week for a bond hearing. Earlier this month, Fenster was arrested after allegedly entering a business demanding money and showing an employee a gun that was located on his waistband. After leaving with only $10, Fenster then returned to the establishment an hour later demanding more money. He obtained an additional $10 and food before fleeing the business. Fenster has a scheduled preliminary hearing in December and remains in custody.
Chief Prosecutor Carla Taylor is handling this case.
The trial for James Bradshaw concluded this week. Bradshaw was charged with rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery of his partner's child. On Wednesday, Bradshaw pled guilty and was sentenced to 20 years.
ADAs Devon Dennis, Sarah Poe, and Carrie Bush handled this case.
Justice Innovation Lab hosts training in downtown Memphis for SCDAG
DA Mulroy speaks to partcipants at JIL workshop in downtown Memphis.
Following the recent partnership between our office and Justice Innovation Lab (JIL), an organization that focuses on providing data-informed solutions to support local leaders in identifying unfair practices, JIL staff flew into Memphis to conduct a three-day training for SCDAG staff in downtown Memphis. During this time, attorneys from SCDAG were able to explore workshops that covered topics such as public safety prioritization, creative problem solving, statistical methods and more.
The training was designed to foster creativity, enhance problem-solving skills, and encourage innovative thinking and data literacy within our office.
Registrants participate in open discussion with panel.
DA Mulroy joins JIL Director in Conversation for book signing in East Memphis
 DA Mulroy interviewed JIL Director, Jared Fishman at a book signing at Novel bookstore Tuesday evening. Fishman is the author of the book “Fire on the Levee," based on an investigation of a police involved murder in New Orleans, and how it led to police reforms there.
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DA Mulroy pictured with author Jared Fisherman at Novel bookstore on Tuesday. |
SCDAG hosts upcoming Driver's License Restoration and Expungement Clinic
 Join SCDAG this Saturday, December 2 for our last expungement clinic of the year at Pursuit of God Church. Additional services such as child support inquiries, voter registration, computer coding training and more by local companies and organizations. This event is free and open to all Shelby County residents.
SCDAG visits Craigmont Middle School for Career Day
Pictured: ADA Lora Fowler and Shelby County Commissioner Charlie Caswell
ADA Lora Fowler was recently invited to Craigmont Middle during their Career Day event. Fowler spoke with students about the necessary steps to become an attorney and answered general questions about our office.
SCDAG's Office in the News
“Going into 2024, Mulroy said he wants to see his office help MPD improve their case clearance rate.
“That’s the most important thing that we can do right now, because what really deters crime, more important than the number of the years of the sentence, is the perception among would-be criminals that they will, in fact, be caught and receive some sentence,” said Mulroy."
Season of Remembrance ceremony held on University of Memphis campus to honor Shelby County homicide victims via ABC24
“Each star on that tree tonight reminds us of the plague of crime that we have in this nation in this state, and in this county,” Mulroy said. “And it’s unacceptable. Each name that we hear tonight reminds us that our work isn’t done.”
Family members lined up by the stage to memorialize their loved ones ahead of a holiday season that will be spent without them."
Loved ones lost to violence honored at Season of Remembrance event via Daily Memphian
"Shelby County Deputy District Attorney Paul Hagerman read off about a hundred names Monday night, pausing between each for a single ring of a bell, as families hung their ornaments.
"As each name rings out today, I hope that it is not just a remembrance, but a pledge," Mulroy said. "A pledge that we, as a community, will work together to do what needs to be done to flatten this curve, this vile curve of violence that is unacceptable. Because I see so many of you out here tonight, I can feel the resolve after having spoken with so many of you. I feel that resolve is here, and each time I hear that name ring out, I'll feel hope. And when I speak of hope, I'm not speaking of some sort of airy fantasy, some sort of platitude, I'm speaking of a concrete determination that we, as a community, will do what needs to be done."
Families of murder victims with unsolved cases search for hope at remembrance event via Commercial Appeal
Thanks for reading,
 Steve Mulroy
District Attorney
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