Family Attorney Describes the Impact of His Mother’s Murder on His Life

Jordan Neely faced profound challenges after the tragic murder of his mother in 2007, according to statements from his family attorney. Neely, aged 30, died on Monday after being placed in a chokehold by former Marine Daniel Penny on a New York City subway train.

At just 14 years old, Neely experienced the devastating loss of his mother, Christine Neely, who was brutally murdered by her former partner. Her body was discovered stuffed in a suitcase on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Family members report that the trauma from this event plunged Neely into a deep depression, and he was homeless at the time of his death.

Attorney Donte Mills shared insights with Al Sharpton on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation, revealing that Neely had been living with his mother and her boyfriend, Shawn Southerland, when the murder occurred. He recounted the painful moment when Neely learned of his mother’s death and attempted to say goodbye, only to be prevented from entering her bedroom by Southerland. “He had to live with the fact that he left his mother dead in their home,” Mills noted, emphasising the weight of that experience on Neely’s mental health.

At 18, Neely testified in the murder trial, which led to a conviction and a 30-year prison sentence for Southerland. Mills described how Neely found solace as a street performer and Michael Jackson impersonator, using entertainment as a way to cope with his past trauma. “He was determined to make other people happy,” Mills explained. “He really enjoyed Michael Jackson; he emulated him and his style.”

Family members were reportedly seeking help for Neely prior to his death. Mills expressed concern for those on the brink of crisis, stating, “We all know people who are on the brink of going through something major… But he had a life that he was living and was reaching for.”

Manhattan prosecutors are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Neely’s death, which the city’s medical examiner has ruled a homicide due to compression against his neck. No arrests have been made thus far, and the medical examiner’s finding does not determine criminal liability; any potential charges will be pursued by the Manhattan district attorney’s office.

Neely’s death has sparked widespread protests across New York City, with demonstrators demanding that authorities bring charges against Penny.