#JusticeForRasheed

Even though I only spent the first eight years of my life in Bardstown, KY I remember those days, like they were yesterday. Growing up in such a small town all of my best friends were my family and that’s all I ever really needed.  You know the cousins you spend so much time with, they actually become more like your brothers and sisters.That’s what I remember the most, spending almost every other waking moment with my cousins Desiree and Rasheed Wickliffe. I vividly remember how Desiree and I were thick as thieves and completely inseparable; and then there was her little brother, my little cousin, Rasheed. Who would just follow us around wanting to play, even though we always found a reason he couldn’t join in the mischief. I even remember when Aunt Gwen brought him home from the hospital and everyone was so fixated on this happy baby that seemed to have a permanent smile on his face. He brought so much life and joy to everybody around him, especially to his family. 2008 was the last time I saw most of my family, for a long time. I saw all of my cousins and they had all grown and changed so much since the last time I saw them. Even though at this point Rasheed was almost taller than me, he was as goofy as ever and that’s how I will always remember him. Little did I know that would be the last time I would see him….

Dec. 1st 2015

6:30AM*phone rings*

Me: Yeah

My mom: What are you doing? Are you awake?

Me: Yeah, what’s going on?

My mom: *sighs deeply* I have some bad news….Rasheed passed away.

Me: What….How?

My mom: He was murdered

*Complete silence*

At first I figured my mom would say maybe he was just hurt really bad and in critical condition. I figured you know maybe he can pull through this, but once she told me all the details, it settled in that he was already gone. That we couldn’t save him, there was nothing we could do. That morning I went through every emotion possible, and got stuck on depression. I couldn’t believe what my mom had just told me, it honestly didn’t make sense. I was sure I was having a bad dream, or maybe it wasn’t real, because it just couldn’t be true. My heart instantly broke thinking of his siblings and what they must be dealing with. And I could never possibly imagine the hurt and turmoil his parents felt, when they heard the news. I stayed awake for nights hoping that it wasn’t real, hoping that somehow time would go backwards and we could get Rasheed back. I kept wishing I could’ve been there for him more as cousin, I wished I could’ve seen the man he had grown into since the last time I saw him. Reality didn’t hit until I flew back home for his funeral. At the wake I stared at him and saw the little boy that I had grown up with and apologized to him that I couldn’t make it in time.

So it’s Been a Year…And Justice Still Hasn’t Been Served

It’s been a year since Rasheed, was murdered and his family members have been tantalized with the promise of justice and closure, only to have it jerked away after every court date. For them it has been a complete up-hill battle that has left them completely disappointed with the judicial system. These are the facts compiled from multiple sources by Rasheed’s cousin Starr Wickliffe Pratt:

***NELSON COUNTY, KENTUCKY – BARDSTOWN, KY***

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS HAD BEEN SEARCHING FOR DRUGS ALL DAY AND CALLING AROUND TRYING TO LOCATE DRUGS

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS SENT MESSAGES STATING THAT HE WAS GOING TO “HIT A LICK” or ROB RASHEED

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS CARRIED THROUGH HIS ACTIONS BY TAKING THE MARIJUANA AND GIVING LESS MONEY

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS STABBED RASHEED WHEN RASHEED APPROACHED HIM

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS was indicted for murder in connection with a homicide and for tampering with physical evidence on December 1, 2015 [Roberts also allegedly tried to dispose of or conceal a knife in order to impair its availability to the police investigation.]

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS AND HIS DAD Terry K. Roberts, 54 were indicted on charges that include tampering with physical evidence; trafficking in marijuana (less than 8 ounces); possession of marijuana; possession of drug paraphernalia; and possession of several firearms while the offenses were committed

The indictment alleges the men acted alone or together and attempted to get rid of the marijuana by flushing it down the toilet. The firearms charge is an enhancement that can lead to a harsher sentence if either is convicted. Tampering with physical evidence is a Class D felony, punishable by 1 to 5 years in prison. The trafficking in marijuana (less than 8 ounces) and drug paraphernalia charges are Class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to one year in jail. Possession of marijuana is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 45 days in jail.

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS WAS ARRESTED ON A $1 MILLION DOLLAR BOND

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS BOND WAS LOWERED ON DECEMBER 5, 2015 TO $500,000.00

✔️ TRIAL DATE FOR ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS JUNE 22, 2016 – CONTINUED

✔️ TRIAL DATE FOR ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS OCTOBER 2016 – CONTINUED

✔️ JUDGE DISMISSED THE DRUG CHARGES AND WILL PROSECUTE SEPARATELY

️✔️ TRIAL DATE FOR ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS NOVEMBER 28, 2016 – MISTRIAL (THE PRESIDING JUDGE CALLED MISTRIAL BECAUSE ALEXANDER WAS BROUGHT IN FRONT OF THE JURORS WITH SHACKLES & HANDCUFFS)

✔️ BOND LOWERED TO $50,000 CASH/$100,000 PROPERTY DUE TOO NO FLIGHT RISK AND GOOD BEHAVIOR WHILE IN JAIL

Bringing Roberts out in shackles was a mistake, said Nelson County Sheriff Ed Mattingly, who oversees the court bailiffs. “It was an honest mistake,” he said. Mattingly said it is rare for a defendant to still be in custody when he goes to trial. The bailiffs mostly bring prisoners into the courtroom for hearings before the judge, where they are routinely shackled for security purposes. But this instance Monday was different, he said. “We just don’t have many trials where people are still in custody,” he said. “Every other person they bring in there, they are in shackles.”

✔️ ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS WAS RELEASED FROM JAIL (Judge Seay lowered the bond which enabled Roberts family to get him out for the holidays)

✔️ PRE-TRIAL DATE RESCHEDULED ON BEHALF OF ROBERT’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY’S PRE-TRIAL DATE: JANUARY 27, 2017

✔️ TRIAL DATE FOR ALEXANDER C. ROBERTS FEBRUARY 22, 2017

✔️ RASHEED JAVON WICKLIFFE IS DEAD

The Nelson County Judicial System has failed Rasheed’s parents and siblings. They cannot move on with their life and begin to grieve the lost of their son and brother until justice is served. After seeing how this case has been handled, I wanted to do whatever I could to help. I don’t know much about the law, but I just knew there needed to be attention brought to the case. So, I did what I know best and wrote about it. I urge everyone and anyone to do what they can to help bring light to this situation so that it can be handled in the right manner. Rasheed did not deserve this and we can not let his voice/story go on unheard. #justiceforrasheed #longlivesheed #RIPRASHEED