He went to Electric Forest with friends. Days later, his family was left questioning how he ended up dead in the Michigan woods.

In Episode 26 of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee investigates the troubling death of 28-year-old Jerard “Jay” Jackson, who attended the Electric Forest music festival in Rothbury, Michigan, in June 2026.

Before Jerard disappeared, Michigan State Police had already encountered him at the festival after an unusual incident involving Jerard and members of his group. According to public reporting, concerns were raised about Jerard’s mental state. He later became separated from his companions, while his cellphone and other belongings reportedly remained behind.

His rental vehicle was eventually located away from the festival.

Jerard was later found dead in a wooded area.

Authorities indicated that his death appeared to be suicide and that there was no initial indication of foul play. But Jerard’s family has publicly challenged that narrative and raised questions about his phone, his keys, the rental vehicle, the accounts provided by people who were with him, and what happened during the final hours of his life.

In this deeply researched episode, Dr. Dee examines the known timeline, law-enforcement response, statements attributed to Jerard’s companions, his family’s concerns, the evidence that has—and has not—been made public, and the historical reasons a Black family may demand greater transparency when a loved one is found hanging.

The episode also examines other disputed or closely scrutinized deaths involving Black victims, including Nolan Wells, Trey Reed, and Dennoriss Richardson, while carefully distinguishing the facts and circumstances of each case.

This episode does not accuse Jerard’s friends or any other individual of causing his death. No publicly verified evidence currently establishes that any of his companions were responsible. Questions raised in this episode are presented as questions—not conclusions.

Because responsible true crime journalism should never begin with a verdict.

It should begin with the evidence.

What did Jerard tell police?
Who had his phone and keys?
What happened after he left the festival?
What do the forensic findings show?
And what evidence allowed investigators to conclude there was no indication of foul play?

Jerard Jackson deserves to be remembered for more than the circumstances of his death.

His family deserves answers.

And until the evidence answers the remaining questions, his story deserves attention.

Welcome to the Lounge of Truth.

The smoke never lies.

IMPORTANT FACTUAL CORRECTION — TONEA NICOLE MILLER

During this episode, Dr. Dee mistakenly states that Tonea Nicole Miller was found hanging in Mississippi. That statement is incorrect. She was found in Florida.

CORRECTION:
Tonea Nicole Miller, a 27-year-old Black woman originally from Flint, Michigan, was found dead on June 18, 2026, hanging from a tree near Gwen Cherry Park in the Gladeview area of Miami-Dade County, Florida.

The episode incorrectly states that she was found in Mississippi. We regret the error and are correcting the record.

Accuracy matters—especially when telling the stories of victims and their families. Cigar & A Crime is committed to correcting factual errors transparently when they are identified.

Cigar & A Crime with Dr. Dee
Investigative storytelling. Victim-centered reporting. Evidence over rumors. Facts over accusations.

📧 CigarandACrimePodcast@gmail.com

If you have verified information relevant to Jerard Jackson’s case, please provide it to the appropriate investigating authorities. Do not contact, threaten, or harass individuals discussed in this episode.

On May 3, 2024, 23-year-old United States Air Force Senior Airman Roger Fortson answered a knock at the door of his Florida apartment while legally holding a firearm inside his own home. Within seconds, he was shot by an Okaloosa County Sheriff's deputy responding to a reported domestic disturbance that investigators later determined was not occurring inside Roger's apartment.

In this episode of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dedrick "Dee" Smith takes listeners beyond the headlines and into the evidence. Through body-camera footage, official investigative findings, court records, and verified reporting, we reconstruct the final moments of Roger Fortson's life and examine the questions that continue to divide public opinion.

This episode explores:

• Roger Fortson's life, military service, and aspirations
• The dispatch call and the events leading to Deputy Eddie Duran's arrival
• A detailed, second-by-second breakdown of the body-camera footage
• Florida's Castle Doctrine and use-of-force standards
• The Sheriff's administrative investigation and its findings
• The criminal manslaughter case and pending civil lawsuit
• The tragic loss of Roger's younger brother, Andre Fortson
• Broader conversations about police accountability, constitutional rights, public trust, and race—grounded in verified evidence rather than speculation

This is not simply a story about a police shooting. It is a story about a family forever changed, a nation wrestling with difficult questions, and the responsibility to seek truth through facts.

Join Dr. Dee in the Lounge of Truth as we honor Roger Fortson's life, examine the evidence, and ask the question that remains at the heart of this case:

When two people each believe the law protects them, what happens when they meet at the same doorway?

The smoke never lies.

In the early morning hours of September 1, 2022, 39-year-old Thomas James Ruffen left his home near Boston's Jackson Square.

Minutes later, the respected father, mentor, and community leader was lying in the roadway.

What happened next would transform what initially appeared to be a tragic pedestrian collision into one of Boston's most disturbing homicide cases.

Prosecutors alleged that witnesses warned the driver that Thomas was lying directly in front of the vehicle. The driver maintained he never saw Thomas and never heard anyone yelling.

One death.

Two completely different versions of what happened.

In this episode of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee takes listeners beyond the headlines to examine not only the criminal investigation, but the remarkable life of Thomas Ruffen, a Boston Neighborhood Fellow, community organizer, founder of the Massachusetts Creating Community Power Association, and longtime leader with Union Capital Boston.

Drawing from court records, investigative reporting, community tributes, and conversations with someone who knew Thomas personally, this episode explores the evidence, the unanswered questions, and the legacy of a man who spent his life helping others find their voices.

Because before Thomas Ruffen became the subject of a homicide investigation...

He was changing lives.

In This Episode:

• Thomas Ruffen's life and legacy
• The events leading up to September 1, 2022
• The prosecution's murder allegations
• The defense's response
• Surveillance evidence and witness accounts
• The unanswered questions that remain
• Reflections on justice, community, and remembrance

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Cigar & A Crime, leave a review, and share this story. Every listen helps ensure that lives like Thomas Ruffen's are remembered-not simply for how they ended, but for the impact they made.

Because the smoke never lies.