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The founder of an African-American history museum in Louisiana was found dead in the trunk of a car on Friday afternoon, police said. The cause of death of Sadie Roberts-Joseph, considered an icon of the community of Baton Rouge, has not yet been determined, but two local officials said she was murdered.
Police found the body of 75-year-old Roberts-Joseph in a car about 3.5 miles from his home, reports WAFB, a CBS subsidiary in Baton Rouge. The authorities did not specify what led to the discovery of his body.
In 2001, Roberts-Joseph founded the Afro-American History Museum Odell S. Williams Now & Then, now known as the Afro-American History Museum of Baton Rouge. She was revered in Baton Rouge for her charity and activism and for helping to launch the annual June celebrations in the capital of Louisiana, commemorating the end of slavery.
"Mrs. Sadie was a tireless supporter of peace in the community and we had the opportunity to work with her on different levels," said the Baton Rouge Police Department in a statement.
"Mrs. Sadie is a treasure for our community, she will miss BRPD and her loss will be felt in the community she has served."
The ministry added, "Our detectives are working diligently to bring to justice the person or persons responsible for this heinous act."
Mayor of Baton Rouge, Sharon Weston Broome, and state representative, C. Denise Marcelle, said that Roberts-Joseph had been murdered – which the police did not confirm. CBS News was not able to immediately reach the police department representatives.
"In the middle of the management of a major meteorological event in our parish, I was struck by a devastating news: the murder of a very dear friend and a mother of the community , Sadie Roberts-Joseph, "wrote Broome in a tribute to Instagram. "I deliberately waited to comment because of the love and respect that I had for Sadie, and because it was such a shocking news." She loved this city and its people. His commitment to the cultural and educational fabric of our community is far beyond the description. "
Marcelle said Roberts-Joseph "did not bother anyone" and wanted to expand the museum she had founded.
The NAACP section in Baton Rouge described Roberts-Joseph as a "cultural legend".
"From the renaissance of Juneteenth to the culture preserved in her museum, she was a pioneer and an icon in this city," said the group.
No suspects have been named in connection with Roberts-Joseph's death. An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death.
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