MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Former Memphis Police Department Officer Patric Ferguson was indicted Wednesday, May 8 by a federal grand jury.
Ferguson was indicted on an eight-count indictment, including charges of federal civil rights, kidnapping and weapons offenses in a fatal shooting during his time as a MPD officer.
Investigators said on Jan. 6, 2021, victim Robert Lee Howard Jr., 30, was reported missing by his girlfriend. Ferguson was later developed as a suspect.
Ferguson plead not guilty in court despite the affidavit saying that he admitted to investigators that he went Howard’s residence, abducted him at gunpoint and killed him in the back of his patrol car.
Ferguson told investigators he left Howard’s body at one location, then received help to move and dispose of the body at another location where it was recovered on Jan. 10, according to an affidavit. A second defendant, Joshua Rogers, 28, was indicted on counts of accessory after the fact, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence.
The federal indictment also charges Ferguson and Rogers, with federal offenses for conspiring to cover up the fatal shooting and destroying evidence of the crimes. The indictment further charges Rogers with accessory after the fact for helping Ferguson cover up his crimes.
The indictment alleges that, on or about Jan. 5, 2021, Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer, kidnapped and shot Howard in the head, resulting in death. Ferguson then allegedly conspired with Rogers to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of body in the Wolf River in Memphis. The indictment further alleges that Rogers disposed of the car used to transport Howard’s body by selling the car at a scrap metal dealership.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin G. Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Douglas DePodesta of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI Memphis Field Office and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Maura White and Tenette Smith of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.
Ferguson was indicted on state charges May 19, 2021, and he was arraigned on May 21, 2021.