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'The fight is absolutely on'

By Starla Muhammad -Managing Editor- | Last updated: Dec 7, 2016 - 2:24:34 PM

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Robert Dion Muhammad (September 6, 1974 - September 5, 2014)
Pending hearing on case surrounding death of Muslim minister slated for Dec. 9

Answers. That is what the wife, family, friends, the Nation of Islam and the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan are demanding in the mysterious and tragic death of Robert Dion Muhammad of Grand Rapids, Michigan just over two-years-ago.

The 39-year-old husband, father of eight and student minister of the Nation of Islam’s Grand Rapids Study Group went missing in the waters of Muskegon State Park’s campground beach September 5, 2014 during an outing with co-workers. His body was found the next day in Muskegon Lake on what would have been his 40th birthday.

Without conducting a criminal investigation, authorities stated Robert Muhammad struggled while swimming back to a boat situated nearly 50 feet offshore that belonged to one of his co-workers and ruled his death an accidental drowning. Others are not so sure pointing to photos of his body after it was pulled from the water that revealed multiple bruises and contusions on the young student minister’s face along with other questionable findings.

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Robert Dion Muhammad’s wife, Sister Yreva Muhammad and their family.

His widow, Yreva Muhammad, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Bertrand Thibault, Daniel Moore, Michael Champrenault, Nicholas Pelfrene, William Gresley, Matthew Kamps and Sebastien Lebon. They were with her husband that fateful day at the lake. The suit alleges they are responsible for his death. The defendants are trying to have the case dismissed. A judge will make the decision during a scheduled Friday, Dec. 9 hearing at 1 p.m. in Grand Rapids on whether the case will be thrown out or is to proceed.

Unfortunately it is not uncommon for criminal investigations to not be pursued in cases involving deaths of Black people nationwide, explained Atty. Berve Muhammad, a member of Yreva Muhammad’s legal team representing her in the civil lawsuit.   

“What was interesting in this case is the police basically determined that it was an accidental death even before Brother Robert’s body was pulled from the water, so they from the very beginning had no intention on investigating this matter particularly as a criminal case but let alone do a thorough investigation period.”

A deadline for early 2017 was previously set by the Kent County Circuit Court to allow attorney’s for Yreva Muhammad to gather necessary information, conduct depositions from expert witnesses and gather additional facts in pursuit of the lawsuit a process known as “discovery.” However, attorneys for the seven co-workers have filed several motions for the court to decide before the deadline, a move attorneys representing Yreva Muhammad are seeking to have dismissed.

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Members of the Fruit of Islam visit Grand Rapids, Mich., passing out information in Grand Rapids, Mich., and obtaining signatures as part of campaign to obtain justice and a full investigation of the Muslim student minister’s death.
“At some point, while on the boat, it is likely that the Defendants then assaulted and battered Mr. Muhammad which caused significant injuries to his face,” said court documents filed on behalf of Yreva Muhammad.

Her attorneys argue there are several important issues that have not been resolved including that both sides have not completed depositions of either medical examiner who examined the body of Robert Muhammad including one who authored a report that said his death was a “possible homicide.” If the judge rules in favor of Yreva Muhammad and denies the motions filed by the opposing attorneys and does not throw the case out, the wrongful death claim will proceed, explained Atty. Berve Muhammad.

In the aftermath of Robert Muhammad’s death, Muslims of the Nation of Islam from the Central Region canvassed Grand Rapids neighborhoods, going door to door, speaking with residents on streets, sharing the call for justice, offering updates on the case, handing out information brochures and collecting signatures as part of a demand for further investigation into the death.

Min. Farrakhan presided over the Islamic funeral prayer service, known as a Janazah, for Robert Muhammad at the Deliverance Outreach Ministries September 13, 2014. On that day, he told mourners, “This will not be business as usual.”

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The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan offers prayers over the casket of Robert Dion Muhammad at Oakhill Cemetery in Grand Rapids September 13, 2014.

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Robert Dion Muhammad’s wife, Sister Yreva Muhammad (seated far right), his mother Karla Muhammad (seated in orange coat) and his father Greyland Banks, received comforting words from Minister Farrakhan and those who worked with Brother Robert.

This case stays on the forefront of the mind of Min. Farrakhan, said Atty. Berve Muhammad.

“This is a mysterious death of a Muslim and that in and of itself is disconcerting. I’m saying that to say just that all by itself is sufficient to have his attention. But he sees there’s something more to this.” He also said Yreva Muhammad, has shown tremendous strength and is “holding it together as well as could be expected.”

“She’s always been steady but now that she sees that the fight is absolutely on, you can just see her faith even strengthening and her security growing in knowing that the Nation is fighting for her, her deceased husband and for her children,” said Atty. Berve Muhammad. 

For more information visit Justice for Robert Muhammad, go: NOI.org/justiceforrobert.

(Final Call staff contributed to this report.)