Black Gay D.C. Man’s Unusual Death Ruled an Accident
The death of a Black, gay man who was found dead on a D.C. street on May 28, 2023 has been ruled "accidental."
According to NBC News, the death of Ernest Terrell Newkirk, 55, was caused by “acute ethanol intoxication,” according to officials on Friday, Sept. 8.
D.C.'s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner added that “hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” a heart condition associated with high blood pressure, and “end stage renal disease of unknown etiology,” which refers to kidney conditions, also contributed to Ernest Terrell Newkirk’s death.
Newkirk's death made national news after his body was found facedown on a city street on May 28. He was discovered hours after telling his longtime partner, Roger Turpin, that he was driving home from a Black Pride event at the Ugly Mug bar in D.C.
His body was discovered without his phone, wallet or jewelry. And his body was located nearly a mile from where his car was later found.
Newkirk was well-known in the D.C. LGBTQ community. He had lived in the District since the 1990s. He had previously worked as a chef for the NBA’s Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. He also owned a landscaping business.
The DC Metropolitan Police Department had previously said that Newkirk's death did not seem to be the result of foul play. However, the department maintains that an investigation is ongoing. But it did not immediately respond to specific questions about the medical examiner’s findings.
Critics, including Newkirk's longtime partner Roger Turpin, believe that DC Metro Police have failed in the investigation. Turpin told the Washington Blade that Newkirk’s bank contacted him to say someone attempted to withdraw funds using Newkirk’s ATM card, prompting the bank to put a hold on the card. Turpin said he learned from Newkirk’s phone records that calls were made on the phone after Newkirk’s disappearance and Turpin has the phone numbers to which the calls were made.
A program for Newkirk's memorial said, “He loved his family. He was a ‘social butterfly’ who enjoyed listening to music and attending/hosting parties. Cooking and making people happy were his favorite pastimes.”
