Two facing many felony counts indicted in connection with death of man in van
Two men face multiple felony counts after a grand jury indicted them in connection with a Dec. 18, 2017 attempted robbery that resulted in the wounding of a man whose body was not discovered in the vehicle until seven weeks later.
The case drew attention after authorities failed to notice the body of Bardomiano Perez Hernandez in the van after answering the attempted robbery call. Perez Hernandez’s body remained in the van behind the front seat until Feb. 5, 2018 when the owner of the van went to the police impound lot to reclaim his van before it was auctioned by the city.
Memphis Police Department records show 19 officers and one impound lot employee failed to discover Perez Hernandez’s body.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland and Memphis Police Director Michael Rallings called the incident where the officers failed to discover the body “unacceptable.” An internal investigation is ongoing by MPD.
Mardracus West, 19, and Earl Brown, 21, are being held without bond, according to a release from the Shelby County district attorney general’s office. They face charges of first-degree murder in the perpetration of attempted especially aggravated armed robbery and attempted especially especially aggravated robbery.
West also was indicted on two counts of first degree murder of two other victims and employment of a firearm in commission of a dangerous felony.