Part 5 Video: A Pattern of Obstruction

They’ve blocked us at every turn.

We’ve been denied:

• Police reports

• Body & dash cam footage

• Full official autopsy records with photos

Even subpoenas for evidence were blocked by a probate judge at the police’s request.

They've blocked us at every turn. 16 months later, still no truth or accountability for Tristan's death.

The DA says he’s taking it to a Grand Jury — but over a year later, no date has been set. Meanwhile, officials refuse to tell us who is responsible or who the DA is investigating to carry before the Grand Jury or how deep this cover-up goes."

The lack of transparency, shifting stories, and refusal to release basic information has destroyed any trust the community has in the local system. Our family who has lost our loved one has every reason to continue to question and press for answers. It now appears our son, brother, grandson, nephew, and cousin was hunted—not helped—by those who took an oath to serve and protect. The aggressive pursuit and narrative manipulation reflect something far more dangerous than incompetence—does this reflect systemic misconduct.

We do not believe this was just a drowning, and perhaps District Attorney Turner is truly investigating a crime committed that resulted in the death of Tristan Sheppard. We demand to know:

a. Complete and real details surrounding Tristan's body ending up in the Cahaba River.

b. Specifically, who is responsible for Tristan’s death.

c. How deep is the alleged coverup?

d. Who made the ultimate decision to shroud this entire death in secrecy?

e. How is it that law enforcement and the coroner’s office failed to inform our family about the visible injuries—bruises, lacerations, and wounds—on Tristan’s body? Whose decision was it to hide these things from the family?

f. The responsible party(s) must be held to account for his death. Was it one, or two officers involved (as a number of community members suggest) or every officer who stood by and allowed it to happen? They all had a duty to protect Tristan.

g. Our family would like to see police reports, bodycam footage, dash cam videos, and official autopsy records with forensic photos included.

h. Since the official death certificate was released 11 months after Tristan’s death, was the coroner’s report inclusive of all the facts? Did the coroner take fresh photos of the body? What will the medical examiners report reveal? Will it document the true condition of Tristan’s body?

i. If this was their child, would they wait 16 months in silence?

We’re not stopping until there’s justice for Tristan — and accountability for every officer involved.

Part 6 is coming next.