Joshua King and RC Alexander Deaths: A Tragic Week in Memphis
The Memphis Police Department has confirmed that a man whose body was recently recovered from McKellar Lake has been identified as 34-year-old Joshua King.
King’s body was found face down in the lake on May 19, after officers responded to a report of a suspicious person in the area. This incident has raised concerns in the community, particularly given the proximity in time to another death in the same lake .
Investigation into Joshua King’s Death
King’s death is currently being treated as a “death investigation” by police, indicating that investigators have not yet determined if foul play was involved.
According to his family, Joshua King had been missing since May 15 and was officially reported missing on May 17. The family had hoped for a safe return, but their fears were confirmed when police recovered his body from the lake just two days later .
RC Alexander’s Death
What has deepened the community’s concern is the fact that King is the second person to be found dead in McKellar Lake within the span of a week.
Just days earlier, another man, identified as RC Alexander, was located on the opposite side of the lake. Alexander’s case, however, was far more definitive in its cause: MPD reported that a suspect, Jimmy Fullilove, confessed to killing Alexander and dumping his body in the lake, making it a confirmed homicide .
Community Concerns and Safety Implications
The proximity and timing of the two deaths have raised alarms in the area, although police have not said whether the two cases are in any way connected. The back-to-back discoveries have unsettled local residents, especially those living near McKellar Lake, a popular but occasionally dangerous area in Memphis.
Community members and advocates have also voiced concern about the handling of missing persons cases, calling for better coordination, faster response times, and more public alerts when someone goes missing .
Autopsy and Investigation
An autopsy will likely provide further insight into the cause of King’s death and whether it was accidental, natural, or potentially the result of criminal activity.
The Memphis Police Department is urging anyone with information about King’s disappearance and death to come forward, particularly those who may have seen him near the lake or in the surrounding area between May 15 and May 19 .
Conclusion
As the investigations unfold, residents are hoping that answers will bring healing and perhaps even help prevent future tragedies. The community continues to watch and wait, hoping that justice—and clarity—will soon be served in both the King and Alexander cases.
While police continue their work behind the scenes, families of the victims are left trying to make sense of unimaginable loss. McKellar Lake, a place once associated with recreation and natural beauty, now carries a heavier shadow for those who have lost loved ones there .
