Robert Lee Clay cannot see the people shouting for answers, nor can he hear the clamor of their voices.
But supporters of the deceased contractor and political activist are hoping that their calls to reopen the investigation into his death are loud enough to rouse even the dead. Or at least reach Mayor Martin O?Malley.
One year after Clay?s alleged suicide, pressure is mounting on the Baltimore Police Department to reopen the investigation into his death.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and prominent local black officials have asked the city to re-examine the Clay case. State Del. Jill Carter, D-District 41, says that evidence suggests something other than suicide and has requested O?Malley to ask for the reopening of the case.
“Robert Clay was a leader in the community, an icon and a founding father to minority businesses,” said Carter. “It?s offensive to the community to have the administration take a cold, hard and fast position that the case is closed and at least appears to be a rush to judgment.”
So far police have declined to reopen the Clay case. Spokesman Matt Jablow said that a thorough examination of the evidence showed “nothing other than a suicide.” But others might beg to differ on that point.
A series of Examiner articles dealt with the suspicious circumstances of Clay?s death, raising questions as to why the successful businessman would commit suicide and the manner of the suicide. “The fact that there was no bullet found, in a small space, is new information that should be looked at,” said Carter.
“The positioning of the body was odd, and I am no expert, but this all ought to be investigated.”
WHFS radio host and former Baltimore Police Commissioner Ed Norris said it is standard practice in a police force to have contractual, usually retired homicide detectives, review old cases when questions arise.
“It doesn?t make any sense not to look this over again,” said Norris. Norris said he took calls off-air from city police detectives who told him Clay family members said Robert Clay had suffered depression before his death.
“So why, if this proves he might have committed suicide, wouldn?t you take another look?” said Norris.
Clay and the mayor sparred over the number of city contracts awarded to minority businesses, leading some community leaders we spoke with to suggest politics may have been an issue. But police bristled at this thought.
“The suggestion that politics had any role in our decision not to reopen the investigation of Robert Clay is an insult to every member of the Baltimore Police Department,” said Jablow, adding, “It is utterly ridiculous.”
Yet for the black community, the tragedy of Clay?s death is not easily overcome by words.
For the police, even the appearance that not every stone has been unturned should be enough to merit a re-examination of the case, even if a thorough job has already been done.
That would at least give some comfort to those who lost a hero in Robert Clay.
Tom Moore hosts the AES Tom Moore Show on AM 680 WCBM ( 10 to 11 p.m. Saturdays). He earned his juris doctor in 2006 from the University of Baltimore Law School. His Web site is www.tom mooreradio.com.
