Case Profiles #62
Quaaneiruh Goodwyn
On October 16th, 2022, 24-year-old Quaaneiruh Goodwyn was in the parking lot of a convenience store in Dorchester, Massachusetts, helping her friends film a music video. It was just before 9:00 p.m., when suddenly a spray of gunshots was fired. In the chaos, Quaaneiruh and two men were shot. Unfortunately, Quaaneiruh died at the scene from her injuries, and the other two men were sent to local hospitals with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Thanks to surveillance footage, investigators were able to see a red SUV with non-working tail lights in the area that night, and they believe it may be related to the crime. Quaaneiruh was a well-loved and devoted mother to a 5-month-old son, Kingston, and was known to be very talented and ambitious. She had her sights set on a career in music and was already excelling in business as she owned a clothing line. If you have any information about Quaaneiruh’s murder, please contact Boston Police Crimestoppers at 1-800-494-TIPS.
Brenda Lee Sawls
On December 14th, 2021, the family of 53-year-old Brenda Lee Rawls came to the realization that Brenda had not been heard from in a few days and had stopped answering their texts and phone calls. Her sisters and several other relatives went to her Bridgeport, Connecticut apartment to check on her and found she wasn’t there. They had last heard from her on December 11th when she told them that she was going to see a male friend that lived close by. They went to this friend’s house just a few doors down, and he informed the family that Brenda was dead. To add to their shock and confusion, he told them that Brenda had died two days ago. He had found her unresponsive in his bed on the morning of December 12th. He called 911 and she was taken in the back of an ambulance. Angela Rawls Martin, one of Brenda’s sisters, stated “He gave me the clothing that she had on and her shoes. I don't understand why that was left behind." Brenda lived just two miles away from Lauren Smith Fields, who was also found dead in her apartment on the morning of December 12th. Brenda’s sisters began making phone calls to local hospitals, the Bridgeport police department, and local funeral homes to try and locate her body. After calling a funeral home and being advised to try calling the medical examiners office, the family learned that Brenda had been with the medical examiner for the last two days. Brenda worked as a customer service representative for most of her career and was described as loving her family and being very family oriented as well as having a great sense of humor. Her sister Dorothy stated “She loved to laugh and make jokes. Even in bad times, she would make a bad situation into a funny situation.”Darnell Crosland, the lawyer representing both Brenda’s and Lauren Smith Field’s families, said that their families have had to “grieve and advocate for justice at the same time. That is unfair and unacceptable.” Police said that the medical examiner’s office reported on January 31st that Brenda’s toxicology report was negative, and in late February they released their findings for Brenda’s cause of death. They said that Brenda died of cardiovascular disease with diabetes as a contributing factor. The Rawls' family attorney, Darnell Crosland, said that they doubted the medical examiner's conclusion, stating “The family of Brenda Lee Rawls has reason to question the M.E. report and we are continually disappointed with the way the City of Bridgeport and the State of Connecticut has shown a lack of value for black lives.”
Image sources:
everloved.com - “Quaaneiruh ‘Q’ Goodwyn”
cnn.com - “Medical examiner determines a Black woman in Connecticut died of natural causes. Her family doubts that ruling, attorney says.”