Sadie Roberts-Joseph, the iconic founder of Baton Rouge’s African American History Museum died of suffocation, in what has been determined to be a homicide, the city coroner’s office confirmed on Monday.
East Baton Rouge Coroner Beau Clark announced on Monday that the 75-year-old activist died of “traumatic asphyxia, including suffocation,” the New York Post reports.
Roberts-Joseph, 75, a fixture in the community who was also known for teaming up with local police in anti-violence initiatives, was found dead in the trunk of a car just three miles away from her home.
“Ms. Sadie was a tireless advocate of peace in the community. We had opportunities to work with her on so many levels. From assisting with her bicycle give away at the African American Museum to working with the organization she started called CADAV (Community Against Drugs and Violence) Ms. Sadie is a treasure to our community, she will be missed by BRPD and her loss will be felt in the community she served,” the Baton Rouge Police Department wrote in a Facebook post over the weekend.
“Our detectives are working diligently to bring the person or persons responsible for this heinous act to justice.”
Not only was Roberts-Joseph the founder of the African American Museum, but she was also its curator. She was also the organizer behind an annual Juneteenth festival at the museum, celebrating the abolition of slavery
As the Baton Rouge Police Department noted, she also founded Community Against Drugs and Violence, which focused on creating a safer environment for children in North Baton Rouge.
The police department is asking anyone with information about Roberts-Joseph’s death to call their detectives at 225-389-4869 or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-STOP (7867).