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The FBI sent matter back to the U.S. State Department
WHY WASN’T THE FBI NOTIFIED OF
DARREN RUSSELL'S DEATH?
WHY WASN'T
THERE AN INVESTIGATION WHEN THEY
BECAME AWARE?
In April of 2006, one year after her son’s murder, Maxine Russell attended a conference for the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). At that conference she spoke with keynote speaker Kathryn Turman, head of the FBI’s Office of Victims Assistance. Ms. Turman stated that it was standard operating procedure for the FBI to be notified of any suspicious death of an American abroad. Such notification, she said, would lead to an autopsy and follow-up investigation for proper disposition. The US Consulate and State Department did not notify the FBI of the suspicious death of Darren Russell.
Attached are two emails from Kathryn Turman and a letter from FBI assistant director James H. Burrus Jr.
On April 13, 2006, almost one year after the death of Darren Russell, Ms. Turman wrote Maxine Russell: “It is somewhat surprising that Darren’s death was not known to us.”
Three months later, on July 16, 2006, Ms. Turman wrote Maxine Russell: “Please understand that although the Embassy did not notify the FBI of your son’s death, they are not impeding the FBI from doing an investigation.”
Two weeks after that, (acting) Assistant Director of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division James H. Burrus Jr. notified Maxine Russell’s congressman that the FBI would not investigate this matter and referred future investigative questions back to the State Department: “The Department of State (DOS) is the most appropriate agency to assist Mrs. Russell in this matter, and she should continue to bring her concerns to the DOS for any additional assistance they may be able to provide.”
Why wasn’t the FBI notified? What – or who – discouraged the FBI to investigate? Why was this referred back to the very agency – the Department of State – that has been so unforthcoming in this matter?
Maxine Russell has repeatedly contacted the Department of State for assistance and answers. To date, she has gotten neither.
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