Exotic Dancer Murdered After Performance in Mayor's Mansion
Tamara Greene, also known as "Strawberry" during her days as an exotic dancer, was fatally shot in 2003 - just months after she reportedly performed at a party held at the Manoogian Mansion in Detroit. While never officially confirmed, it was rumored that former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, who had been elected the year prior, was in attendance.
CREDITS:
Created, Written, & Produced by John Reedburg
Hosted & Narrated by Samantha Paul
Production Company: John Reedburg Media
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My mom was a very popular
stripper in the early 2000s, and
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as you can imagine, that
industry meet a lot of powerful,
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rich, famous people.
My mom ended up having an affair
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with the mayor of the city, who
was married at the time.
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So yeah, things got messy and
the mayor of Detroit's wife
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actually assaulted my mother.
Instead of paying my mother hush
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money, the mayor decided to pay
off cops in the city to murder
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my mother.
Tamara Green burst onto the
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scene on a frosty night in May
of 76 in the gritty city of
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Detroit, MI.
Her mother, Brenda Green, toiled
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as a solo provider for her
offspring in their
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underprivileged neighborhood on
the rough east side of town.
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Despite the hardships, young
Tamara found solace and guidance
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and Pastor Ken Hampton at Grace
Bible Chapel.
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But as she grew older and more
aware of her family's struggles,
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Tamara dreamt of escaping their
impoverished lifestyle.
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In high school, she became
pregnant with her first child at
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just 16 years old.
But she persevered and graduated
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in 1994, giving birth to another
child a year later.
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Determined to break free from
poverty, Tamara pursued a career
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in nursing but needed money in
the meantime.
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That's when she turned to using
her beauty to obtain material
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possessions, a path that would
lead her down a dangerous Rd.
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According to T Jackson, the
father of Tamara's daughter, she
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fell into a life of drugs and
fast money, running with
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notorious dealers and spending
time in strip clubs.
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Little did she know this choice
would ultimately cost her life.
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She saw the easy money and it
tempted her.
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Welcome to No Tears for Black
Girls, a true crime series
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00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,760
created, written and produced by
award-winning writer Jon
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Reedberg and hosted by Samantha
Paul.
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With a naive disregard for her
mother's warnings, Tamara
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entered the world of exotic
dancing.
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She became known as Strawberry,
a highly requested stripper in
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Detroit's most popular clubs.
But as her fame and fortune
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grew, so did her clientele.
Tamara's services were in high
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demand, from local drug dealers
to city officials and
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politicians.
Her boyfriend, Eric Biggie
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Mitchell, was a local drug
dealer who had no qualms about
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her career.
It has been rumored that one of
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Tamara's prominent clients was
the Attorney General and
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gubernatorial candidate Mike
Cox, who introduced her to a man
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who would change her life
forever.
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Kwame Kilpatrick.
An up and coming politician with
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powerful parents and a promising
future, Kwame rose quickly
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through the political ranks with
his mother, vacating her seat in
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Congress to pave the way for his
success.
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In 2001, he became a candidate
for mayor of Detroit, facing off
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against former police officer
Gil Hill.
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On New Year's Day 2002, Kwame
Kilpatrick was sworn in as
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mayor, but little did anyone
know the scandals and corruption
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that would soon be revealed
During his time in office, as he
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made his mark on the city,
delivering fervent speeches to
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the residents of Detroit and
promising a brighter future as
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their mayor, Kwame Kilpatrick
seemed destined for political
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greatness.
He shared a similar trajectory
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with a young Barack Obama, both
seen as rising stars in the
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Democratic Party.
But in 2002, things took a dark
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turn when Kwame began a torrid
affair with Tamara Green, an
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event that would go on to be one
of the most notorious scandals
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in Detroit's history.
It all started at the Minujian
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Mansion, a grand home that had
served as the residence for
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mayors since the 1920s.
Rumor has it that Kwame threw an
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extravagant party there to
celebrate his new role as the
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city's youngest mayor, complete
with drugs, alcohol and top
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ranking strippers.
During the wild festivities, all
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eyes were on Kwame as he
received a lap dance from his
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favorite stripper, Strawberry,
AKA Tamara Green.
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But suddenly, the front door
burst open and in walked Kwame's
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wife, Carlita, who was supposed
to be out of town at the time.
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Enraged by what she saw, Carlita
attacked Tamara with a table leg
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or some other blunt object.
Security had to intervene and
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escort Tamara out of the
mansion.
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But according to former Detroit
EMS Lieutenant Michael Kearns,
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things didn't end there.
They received a call from a gas
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station where a woman claiming
to be Tamara Green reported
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being attacked by the mayor's
wife.
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As paramedics treated her
injuries.
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She kept insisting that they
couldn't get away with this and
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that justice would be served.
Despite Kwame's attempts to keep
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the party under wraps, Secrets
have a way of coming out in
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politics.
The media started investigating
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reports of secret agreements and
questionable activities as they
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delved into Kwame Kilpatrick's
time as mayor of Detroit.
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The controversy surrounding his
notorious party was just one in
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a series of scandals during his
corrupt leadership.
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But at first, all attention was
on Tamara Green, a young woman
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who had attended these wild
gatherings at the historical
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Manujian Mansion.
Sandy Cardenas, a former police
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dispatcher, recalled receiving
numerous calls one night in 2002
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about a disturbance at the
mansion.
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The responding officers were met
with locked doors and no
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response from inside, despite
hearing voices within.
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Yet somehow, Kwame remained
untarnished in the public eye,
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painting himself as a devoted
family man with a perfect image.
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But those who were once close to
him knew the truth.
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They saw the dark side of Kwame
and feared that they might have
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to resort to murder to keep his
secrets hidden.
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One such victim was police
officer Harold Nelthrope, who
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worked on Kwami's security team
but soon realized he needed to
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distance himself from the
corruption.
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While Kwami played up his charm
and charisma on national TV
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appearances, word spread
throughout Detroit that he was
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acting more like a ruthless mob
boss than a mayor.
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He used his power to extort
money from local businesses and
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funnel taxpayer dollars into his
lavish lifestyle, buying
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expensive cars, homes and trips
for himself and his inner
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circle.
Corruption ran unchecked under
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Kwame's rule.
He controlled who received city
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contracts and made millions off
of it.
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In short, if you wanted anything
done in Detroit during Kwame
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Kilpatrick's time as mayor, you
had to pay him and pay him well.
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He became drunk with power,
believing he was above the law
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and untouchable in his
stronghold over the city.
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It wasn't until years later that
the full extent of his criminal
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activities would come to light.
Kwame was a powerful politician,
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but he had a problem that could
bring down his entire empire.
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Tamara Green, an exotic dancer,
demanded financial compensation
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for her traumatic experience at
the Manujian mansion.
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She threatened to expose Kwame
and others in his circle if he
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didn't pay up.
But as she shared her story with
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family and friends, they warned
her about playing a dangerous
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game.
Rumors circulated that Tamara's
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baby girl, India, was fathered
by none other than the mayor
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himself.
As their relationship
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deteriorated, Tamara saw an
opportunity to cash out on her
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situation with the powerful
politician.
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However, this decision would
ultimately lead to Tamara's
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downfall.
She began receiving ominous
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threats via phone calls from
unknown numbers.
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Terrified for her life and no
longer feeling safe in her own
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home, she sought refuge with
different family and friends.
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Even the father of her child
recalls being awoken multiple
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times by Tamara seeking a safe
place to stay.
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Her pastor also received an
urgent call from Tamara,
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expressing how terrified she was
and desperately needing to meet
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with him.
Despite his suggestion to
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involve the police, Tamara
refused, claiming that those
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threatening her had control over
law enforcement.
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But even with all of this
turmoil in her life, Tamara
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stayed focused on providing for
her children.
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She opened up a boutique
dedicated to exotic dancer
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attire and continued to make
money through private parties
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with her boyfriend, Eric Biggie
Mitchell, by her side.
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Little did she know, these
ventures would ultimately lead
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to her tragic demise.
In the spring of 2003, Tamara
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had a job working parties in
Southfield, MI, but on this
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particular night at the
Residence Inn Hotel, things took
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a dangerous turn.
A short man with a dark past and
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violent tendencies set his
sights on Tamara, and when she
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rejected him, he flew into a
rage.
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Her boyfriend, Eric Mitchell,
came to her rescue, but it was
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too late.
The police were called but no
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one was arrested and no report
was filed.
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Tamara's ex-boyfriend, Ernest
Flagg would later recall how she
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showed up at his door in the
middle of the night, shaking
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with fear and claiming to have
been followed by an ominous van.
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She confided in her mother about
her fears and premonitions, but
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sadly they would come true on
April 30th.
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Leaving work at a club in the
early hours of the morning with
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Eric Mitchell, they pulled over
to talk when a suspicious
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vehicle approached them.
Before they knew what was
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happening, gunshots rang out and
both were hit multiple times.
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Eric survived, but Tamara was
pronounced dead at the scene.
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Rumors began to spread about who
could have been behind the
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vicious attack, but it became
clear that Lil DA, notorious
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drug dealer with a long standing
grudge against Eric Mitchell,
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was responsible for Tamara's
death.
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They were locked in a bitter
feud, each one determined to
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take down the other.
And in a cruel twist of fate,
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the Red King finally got his
chance to strike at his rival.
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But instead of killing him, he
took the life of an innocent
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woman, Tamara Green.
The murder seemed like a
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textbook case of Detroit St.
violence gone too far and LED
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Detective Mike Carlisle was
quick to point the finger at the
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Red King.
With evidence from an informant
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who claimed the shooter had
confessed during their time in
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prison, and testimony from
witnesses who saw a white Chevy
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Trailblazer matching the
description of the Red King's
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girlfriend's car at the scene of
the crime, it seemed like an
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open and shut case.
But despite all this, Derek King
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was never charged with Tamara's
murder.
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As Detective Carlisle continued
to pursue the Red King on other
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charges, Derek maintained his
innocence and even passed a lie
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detector test proclaiming it.
Meanwhile, Sergeant Marianne
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Stevenson took over the
investigation and began
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uncovering new evidence that
pointed towards a larger
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conspiracy involving
high-ranking officials in the
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city.
But as she reported her findings
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to her superiors, things only
seem to get more complicated and
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suspicious.
When she went to review the
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homicide file on Tamara Green's
case, she discovered key pieces
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of evidence were missing,
including a videotape that
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showed Mayor Kilpatrick's
personal protection unit and
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Detroit police officers
attending Tamara's funeral.
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Despite denying any knowledge of
her or involvement in her death,
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it became clear that there was
more at play here than just a
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simple St.
Beef turned deadly, and as
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Sergeant Stevenson delved deeper
into the case, she realized she
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might be up against powerful
forces that wanted to keep the
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truth buried.
Sergeant Stevenson's accusations
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fell on deaf ears as she was
abruptly reassigned to Precinct
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9, known for housing officers
who had fallen out of favor.
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Her superior, Lieutenant
Jackson, suffered the same fate
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and was sent to a different
precinct.
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In their place came Lieutenant
Alvin Bowman, who took command
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of Squad 8 Homicide Unit with
gusto.
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He too would be met with
resistance from those in power,
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but it only fueled his
determination to solve the
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Tamara Green case.
Despite subtle warnings from
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superiors not to dig too deep,
Lieutenant Bowman persevered and
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unearthed new evidence
surrounding Tamara's death.
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00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,920
The local news caught wind of
the story and it gained
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00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:10,840
momentum, prompting the Michigan
State Police to get involved in
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a meeting on March 9th, 2004
with the commander of his unit
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present.
Lieutenant Bowman shared his
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findings, including evidence
that pointed to the Manujian
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Mansion party being real and
another stripper who had been
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murdered in similar
circumstances in Georgia.
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Text messages between Kwame
Kilpatrick and his Executive
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Protection Unit on the night of
Tamara's murder were brought to
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00:13:33,560 --> 00:13:36,840
light, along with information
about the bullets used being
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00:13:36,840 --> 00:13:38,680
linked to the Detroit Police
Department.
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00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:43,080
But just one day later,
Lieutenant Bowman was relieved
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00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,920
of his duties by those in power
who saw him as a threat.
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00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:49,920
The Michigan State Police's
investigation into the case was
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00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:53,560
also shut down by Attorney
General Mike Cox at the behest
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00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:56,800
of Mayor Kilpatrick.
It was eventually transferred to
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00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:01,440
a cold case homicide unit led by
Sergeant Odell Gabo, but he too
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00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,320
faced pushback and was unable to
solve the Tamara Green puzzle.
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00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,640
The year was 2005 and the city
of Detroit was embroiled in a
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00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,200
scandal involving its mayor,
Kwame Kilpatrick.
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00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:18,960
A former police officer,
Lieutenant Alvin Bowman had come
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00:14:18,960 --> 00:14:22,640
forward with accusations of
corruption and a cover up in the
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00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,000
investigation of Tamara Green's
murder.
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00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,840
As if that wasn't enough, the
family of Tamara Green had also
237
00:14:29,840 --> 00:14:33,840
filed a massive lawsuit against
the city and the mayor himself,
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00:14:34,160 --> 00:14:36,360
seeking justice for their loved
one's death.
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00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:42,160
Meanwhile, the mayor's political
career was on shaky ground as he
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00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:45,160
faced numerous allegations of
cheating and low approval
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00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:47,960
ratings.
Despite this, he managed to win
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00:14:47,960 --> 00:14:52,360
re election in November of 2005,
but not without controversy and
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00:14:52,360 --> 00:14:56,280
accusations of voter fraud.
But this was just the beginning
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00:14:56,280 --> 00:15:01,080
of Kilpatrick's troubles.
A civil lawsuit had been filed
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00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:04,240
by two former members of his
executive protection unit,
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00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,280
alleging that their careers were
ruined because Kilpatrick wanted
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00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:12,240
to hide his extramarital affairs
and other illegal activities.
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00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,800
As investigations continued into
his administration's corruption,
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00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:20,160
it became clear that
Kilpatrick's second term would
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00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:22,400
be just as tumultuous as his
first.
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00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:26,080
And as more secrets came to
light, it seemed like there was
252
00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,800
no escaping the shadow of his
past actions.
253
00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:33,760
In 2007, a scandal rocked the
city of Detroit.
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00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:38,400
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and his
chief of staff Christine Beatty
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00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,040
were awarded millions in
damages, but it would ultimately
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00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:44,560
cost them their careers and
reputations.
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00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,600
The scandal began when it was
revealed that the mayor and
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00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,440
Beatty had lied underoath about
their relationship.
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00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:54,520
Text messages between the two
were made public, leading to an
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00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:56,760
investigation and criminal
charges.
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00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,280
Kilpatrick was convicted of
perjury and obstruction of
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00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,080
justice and sentenced to four
months in jail.
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00:16:03,800 --> 00:16:07,160
The pressure for him to resign
grew, with even members of the
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00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,000
Detroit City Council calling for
his resignation.
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00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:14,880
But Kilpatrick refused to step
down, even as more damning
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00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:18,720
revelations came to light.
He was accused of assaulting a
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00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,240
Wayne County sheriff officer who
attempted to serve him with a
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00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:26,000
subpoena and behaving like a mob
boss rather than a mayor.
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00:16:26,960 --> 00:16:30,040
As his political career
crumbled, Kilpatrick gave a
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00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:34,040
defiant State of the City
address on TV, declaring that he
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00:16:34,040 --> 00:16:38,320
wasn't going anywhere.
But eventually, Governor
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00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:41,720
Jennifer Granholm became
involved and worked to force him
273
00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:45,440
out of office.
Meanwhile, Tamara Green's family
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00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:47,520
continued to seek justice for
her death.
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00:16:48,280 --> 00:16:51,080
Their lawyer claimed to have
evidence that Kilpatrick ordered
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00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:54,960
her murder and covered it up.
Later, in late 2011, Judge
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00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,400
Gerald Rosen ruled in favor of
the city and all accusations
278
00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:02,200
against Kilpatrick were dropped.
Despite being found innocent,
279
00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,599
both Kilpatrick and Beatty's
reputations were tarnished
280
00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:09,200
forever, and the pain caused by
their actions would never be
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00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:13,200
forgotten by those affected.
The case of Tamara Green had
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00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:18,000
finally received some semblance
of justice in 2013, albeit
283
00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,160
indirectly.
The former mayor of Detroit,
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00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:26,119
Kwame Kilpatrick, who was forced
to resign in 2008 amid scandal
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00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:29,800
and corruption, found himself
entangled in a web of legal
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00:17:29,800 --> 00:17:33,120
woes.
Following numerous violations of
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00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:36,440
his federal probation, he was
hit with an additional Rico
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00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:39,440
charge and sentenced to 28 years
in prison.
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00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:43,480
His downfall from a promising
politician to an inmate was
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00:17:43,480 --> 00:17:47,640
highly publicized, and even his
once successful wife left him
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00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:49,560
while he served time behind
bars.
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00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,120
But as the years passed,
Kilpatrick's situation took a
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00:17:54,120 --> 00:17:57,280
turn for the unexpected when he
received a pardon from President
294
00:17:57,280 --> 00:18:01,240
Donald Trump thanks to lobbying
from none other than celebrity
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00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:05,280
socialite Kim Kardashian.
And as if that wasn't enough of
296
00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,480
an insult to the family of
Tamara Green, their hopes for
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00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:11,840
justice were slowly fading as
all appeal options ran out.
298
00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:16,480
Even offering a $100,000 reward
for information on Greene's
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00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:21,120
death proved futile.
After his release from prison,
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00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:25,560
Kilpatrick started a nonprofit
organization and began preaching
301
00:18:25,560 --> 00:18:29,440
as an ordained minister.
But the shadow of his past crime
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00:18:29,440 --> 00:18:34,560
still loomed over him, and even
after over 2 decades have passed
303
00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:38,720
since Greene's mysterious death
at the infamous Mnujian Mansion
304
00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:42,080
party, her daughter Ashley
Jackson has taken to social
305
00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,040
media to share her story and
demand answers.
306
00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:50,720
With greed, lust, money and
murder at its core, this case
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00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:54,000
continues to captivate the
public's attention and could
308
00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:56,520
easily be the plot of a
Hollywood movie.
309
00:18:58,280 --> 00:19:01,240
As the dust settled from the
scandal ridden Minujian Mansion
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00:19:01,240 --> 00:19:04,960
incident, whispers of a deeper
connection between Tamara Green
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00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,760
and Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick began
to surface.
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00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:11,680
Rumors swirled that Tamara had
secretly given birth to the
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00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:15,720
mayor's child, threatening to
destroy his carefully crafted
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00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,560
image as a family man.
And when Tamara was brutally
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00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,400
murdered in a drive by shooting,
many suspected it was not just a
316
00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,560
random act of violence, but
rather a targeted hit
317
00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:29,040
orchestrated by the powerful
politician.
318
00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:33,280
But for Tamara's daughter,
Ashley, the truth behind her
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00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:35,720
mother's death would remain
elusive.
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00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:40,240
She lived with the constant
reminder of her loss, bombarded
321
00:19:40,240 --> 00:19:44,160
by media attention and false
promises from journalists eager
322
00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,040
for a story.
While her siblings were
323
00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:49,760
dispersed amongst different
relatives after their mother's
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00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:53,720
passing, Ashley struggled to
make ends meet and cope with the
325
00:19:53,720 --> 00:19:56,800
knowledge that her life could
have been so much different if
326
00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,160
her mother were still alive.
The circumstances surrounding
327
00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:05,360
Tamara's death are shrouded in
mystery, with various theories
328
00:20:05,360 --> 00:20:09,400
circulating throughout Detroit.
Some point to the infamous party
329
00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,120
at the Minujian mansion as a
possible motive.
330
00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:15,680
While others believe it was
related to the ongoing feud
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00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,400
between Eric Mitchell and the
Red King Gang.
332
00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,880
There is even speculation that
Tamara's ex-boyfriend may have
333
00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,640
played a role, especially after
he disappeared with an expensive
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00:20:26,640 --> 00:20:29,160
BMW that Tamara helped him
purchase.
335
00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,880
But one thing is certain, Tamara
Green was a young woman caught
336
00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,120
up in dangerous circles,
pursuing wealth and happiness
337
00:20:37,120 --> 00:20:41,400
for her family, and in the end,
it cost her everything.
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00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:45,880
The case remains unsolved,
leaving behind grieving loved
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00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:49,760
ones and a city haunted by yet
another senseless tragedy.
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00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:55,520
Rest in peace, Queen Tamara
Green, gone too soon at just 27
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00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:59,440
years old.
Thank you for listening to No
342
00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:02,680
Tears for Black Girls.
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344
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345
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crime case that you would like
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