My Meeting With the FBI
The agent seemed a pleasant enough fellow and appears to be well informed about the case. He has questioned many of the people mentioned as possible suspects and witnesses. He had read our article at the History News Network which discussed our investigation over several years as part of our upcoming biography of Dr. T.R.M. Howard.
We were the first researchers in decades to question two key figures about the case, Henry Lee Loggins (an employee of J.W. Milam) and Willie Reed. Reed testified that he had seen Milam and four white men and three black males (including Till) in a pickup truck which pulled into an equipment shed near Drew, Mississippi shortly after the kidnapping. Reed then heard noise that sounded like a beating and human cries. We also interviewed Till's mother, Mamie Till Mobley. We later told filmmaker Keith Beauchamp about Loggins who then interviewed him for his documentary.
The agent said that the DOJ has not put him under any time limit. He said nothing to change our view (as expressed in the History News Network piece) that the mystery will probably never solved although I think he is making a sincere effort.
He said that 60 Minutes will probably air a piece on Sunday which will apparently stress the role of possible role of Roy Bryant's wife, Carolyn Bryant. I wonder if it will also stress the alleged involvement of black suspects. If so, will it call for their prosecution? I will blog more on this later.