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Illustration of the St. Louis skyline across the river, with foliage in the foreground. Simiya Sudduth

The Marshall Project — St. Louis

Exposing abuses in the criminal justice system in St. Louis and Missouri through investigative, data and community engagement journalism.

Life Inside
The ‘Last Responder’: What Being a Mortician to Homicide Victims Taught Me About Grief
St. Louis native Shamari Jackson began studying mortuary science after her boyfriend was fatally shot. Now she uses her work as a form of therapy.
A photo of Shamari Jackson, a Black woman wearing a suit, standing outside of a building with glass windows. In the building space are paintings of homicide victims.
A White woman in a black shirt smiles for a picture as she hugs her father, who is wearing a white prison uniform.
St. Louis October 15
Their Dads Were on Death Row in Missouri. Here’s How They Faced Goodbyes, Executions and Grief.
The children of Lance Shockley, Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams Sr. and Kevin Johnson shed light on oft-forgotten experiences.
By
A collage illustration with muted green and orange tones shows details of black mold on a bathroom floor, a closeup of a cockroach, a broken toilet bowl, trash, a closeup of a person covering their nose and mouth, a closeup of a person clenching their fist, and the obscured figure of a man.
Analysis October 9
No Showers, Black Mold and Clogged Toilets: America’s Jails Are Disgusting
Understaffing, outdated facilities and poor management have led to filthy conditions in jails in St. Louis, Cleveland and Hinds County, Mississippi.
By , and
A blue, black and white collage shows images of police officers, silhouettes, two hands handcuffed, a logo of the Missouri Department of Public Safety, a map, a brick wall and clippings of a court case.
St. Louis September 18
How Missouri Has Let Police Officers Stay Licensed After Serious Misconduct
Missouri’s system often takes years to resolve a misconduct allegation, in some cases allowing officers to move on to a new department.
By
An illustration shows a tan-skinned person, wearing a purple sweater and gray pants, talking to a Black person across from them who is wearing glasses, a green sweater and black pants. A speech bubble with a scribble inside points from the Black person. In the background, there is a lamp, a bookshelf, a hanging frame and a plant. A title is placed on top of the illustration that reads, "Grieving after a homicide? Families who've been there share what helped."
Feature September 17
An Illustrated Resource Guide for Families of Homicide Victims in St. Louis
The Marshall Project compiled guidance on grieving, working with law enforcement and more from those who have lost someone to violence.
By
An illustration shows a shirtless person sweating as they sit on top of their bed. The person is inside a cell, with a sink on the right.
St. Louis September 8
What It’s Like Enduring a Heat Wave in a Missouri Prison
Lawyers requested swift cooling measures in a prison with no A/C. One man shares the dangerous conditions inside while people await a judge’s ruling.
By , The Marshall Project, and Jeremy Hann
A collage shows a map of St. Louis, text from a lawsuit, a picture of a Black transgender woman with red braids, a portrait of three Black women standing next to a transgender flag and a picture of a prison.
St. Louis August 21
A Woman With HIV Spent Six Years in Solitary. She Sued and Missouri Will Change Its Policy.
Honesty Bishop was attacked by her cellmate. Prison officials deemed her sexually active and kept her in isolation for more than 2,000 days.
By Kavahn Mansouri, The Midwest Newsroom, and , The Marshall Project
A black woman, wearing a white sweatshirt and glasses, looks down.
Feature August 11
The Hidden Toll of Unsolved Homicides in St. Louis: ‘A Life Sentence of Grief’
Without enough resources to meet their needs, families of homicide victims say, years later, they’re still struggling to cope.
By
Feature August 5
Unsolved, Not Forgotten: How Six Parents Remember the Children They Lost to Violence
These families have yet to see justice in the deaths of their loved ones. Amid the grief, they are fighting to keep their memories from fading.
By
An illustration shows a tan-skinned person, wearing a purple sweater and gray pants, talking to a Black person across from them who is wearing glasses, a green sweater and black pants. A speech bubble with a scribble inside points from the Black person. In the background, there is a lamp, a bookshelf, a hanging frame and a plant.
Feature August 5
How Do You Grieve the Victim of an Unsolved Homicide? Ask the People Who’ve Been Through It.
In this guide, families who have lost someone to violence in St. Louis share what did – and did not – help them rebuild their lives after a tragic loss.
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