Memphis man sues city, police over photo taken of his deceased mother

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Lemichael Wilson has filed a federal complaint after discovering a disturbing image of his late mother on her cellphone, raising new questions about how Memphis police handled her body and the scene. He says the photo violated her dignity and now his family is seeking justice.

Lemichael Wilson’s Mother Found Dead in Her Home

Wilson’s mother, 69‑year‑old Laujaneese Wilson Tannon, was found dead on July 1, 2025 at her home, according to Action 5 News who first reported on the incident. Emergency responders attempted to revive her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. A medical examiner later determined that she died from a pulmonary embolism.

Although the cause of death was natural, Wilson said the events that followed created a second trauma for his family. Days after her death, he received a “memory” notification on her iPhone. The image showed a woman lying on a bed in underwear with electrode pads on her back. He said the photo appeared to have been taken during the police response.

Memphis Police Say the Photo Was Accidental

Memphis police told Action 5 News the image was captured accidentally while a lieutenant attempted to access the phone to locate next of kin. They also said the photo was deleted immediately. However, Wilson disputes that explanation. He says phone records show the image was taken four minutes after he had already spoken with an officer about his mother’s death.

Wilson later viewed a short portion of body‑camera footage in December. He said the clip lasted about ten seconds and showed an officer taking the photo and attempting to delete it. He is now demanding the full release of all related footage.

Federal Complaint Filed After Months Without Answers

Wilson said he repeatedly contacted the Memphis Police Department seeking an explanation. He said he was denied access to full body‑camera footage because the matter was considered an open investigation. He also said no one from the city reached out to apologize or clarify what happened.

Because he could not obtain answers, Wilson filed a federal civil rights complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. He is seeking damages for emotional distress, a ruling that the actions were unconstitutional, and the full release of all body‑camera footage from the incident.

Family Calls for Transparency and Accountability

Wilson said the lawsuit is about more than a single photo. He argues that the case raises broader concerns about how police treat families during moments of crisis.

Wilson asked several questions publicly:

• Why was his mother’s dignity not protected?
• Why has the city refused to release full footage?
• Were the images shared or mishandled?

He said every family deserves respect, especially during a loved one’s final moments.

Police Review and Ongoing Investigation

The Memphis Police Department said its Internal Affairs Bureau reviewed the case and cleared the officer of wrongdoing.

Wilson said he will continue seeking answers until the full footage is released and the city addresses his concerns.