Mary DeBardelaben, a resident of Ellenwood, Georgia, recently received closure on a decades-old family mystery surrounding the death of her grandmother, Hattie DeBardelaben, in rural Alabama in 1945. Hattie DeBardelaben's tragic demise at the hands of law enforcement officers was shrouded in mystery for years until federal documents were released last month, shedding light on the events leading to her death.
The documents revealed that on March 23, 1945, Hattie DeBardelaben was fatally beaten by law enforcement officers who accused her of selling illegal whiskey. Despite her denials, the situation escalated, resulting in a fatal confrontation that led to her death in police custody. The documents also detailed the alleged cover-up that followed, with conflicting reports on the cause of her death.
For Mary DeBardelaben, the release of these documents marked a significant moment in her quest for justice and closure. The documents, made public under the Civil Rights Cold Case Records Collection Act, provided her with answers she had been seeking for years. The act aims to review and release investigative records from unresolved cold cases between 1940 and 1979, bringing to light the dark chapters of the nation's history.
Despite the passage of almost eight decades since Hattie DeBardelaben's death, her family, including Mary and her siblings, found some closure in the revelations from the federal documents. The family hopes that the newfound information will not only provide closure but also serve as a step towards justice for their grandmother's untimely death.
Mary DeBardelaben, who turns 75 this month, considers the knowledge of her grandmother's final moments as a significant gift for her milestone birthday. She plans to share the details with her relatives during Thanksgiving, aiming to educate them about the historical context of the events and promote understanding rather than resentment.
As Mary reflects on the journey to uncover the truth about her grandmother's death, she finds solace in sitting under Hattie DeBardelaben's portrait, feeling her spirit and honoring her memory.
