Weeks after learning about his death, the family of Jahfari Joseph is still looking for closure in what police have deemed a homicide.
Police officials say that Joseph, a 40-year-old Brooklyn native who had been living in Plattsburgh, was killed on December 29 in Peru, New York. On January 7, they arrested Timothy Timmons, 61, and charged him with second degree murder. Clinton County’s District Attorney told reporters that Joseph may have had a disagreement with someone in the Timmons family.
Police said they made the arrest based on witness statements and cell phone video and audio. But neither Joseph’s body, nor a murder weapon, have been found.
“We’re trying to just lay him to rest, give my family, my mother some closure,” said Joseph’s younger brother, Teddy John. “I just wish that if somebody knew where his body was, they would just say something.”
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New York State Police say they have been pursuing over 220 leads in the search for Joseph’s body, and the family traveled to Plattsburgh earlier this week to speak with investigators. But the visit did not yield any concrete information.
“We spoke to the lead investigator, but they didn’t have too much for us” John said over text.
John said he first suspected something was wrong when his mother called him on December 29.
“On the 29th, my mom called me and asked me about my brother. She had a stomach ache … I thought that it was a regular stomach ache, but she said the only time she had that type of pain was when she was giving birth, when she was in labor,” he recalled.
When he still hadn’t heard from his brother after New Year’s, he became alarmed.
“When New Year’s came and he didn’t call nobody, or write nobody … that’s when it kind of hit me, like something might really be wrong. Because he’s not the type to not call for holidays,” he said.
John said state police confirmed the family’s worst fears on a January 8 visit to his mother’s home.
Joseph, a father of four, had moved to Plattsburgh a few years ago, but grew up in Brooklyn. He was a well-known reggae artist in the community, performing under the stage name, Ifari. His death has hit the community hard.
“My brother’s the type of guy that all the old ladies from my building were hurt because he’s like a sweet guy to them. He’ll carry their groceries and stuff to their door, talk to them, joke with them,” he explained.
“Seeing those people crying on his block, in front of his building, that’s what really broke my heart,” said Marcos Blake, a childhood friend of Joseph.
“This person deserves a going home, he deserves a funeral,” Blake said. “Him not having that is what’s really hurting us.”
If you have any information about the case, please contact state police at 518-563-3761.
Shannon Chaffers is a Report for America corps member and writes about gun violence for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://bit.ly/amnews1.