Gemmel Moore, 26 was found dead in July of 2017. He was found naked on a mattress, in the living room, surrounded by drug paraphernalia. The coroner stated that Moore died from a methamphetamine overdose. The second man, Timothy Dean, 55, was found dead at Buck’s apartment on January 7th 2019. The cause of Dean’s death is still under investigation. Although has been considered a suspect, no criminal charges have been brought against him.
Jasmyne Cannick, a community activist who has worked with Gemmel Moore’s family to seek justice did her own investigation into the matter. She claims that Buck lures Black men into his apartment for sexual encounters. He promises them money and once they get inside his crib, he injects them with crystal meth. “This man has had two dead bodies in his house and he’s still in his house. The fact that Ed Buck is a prominent Democratic donor should concern us all,” she said. “He spreads his money around to get access and influence into these powerful circles and we need our party to say no, no longer. I’m out here just as a black person I’m outraged, as a Democrat I’m outraged. He needs to be arrested, he needs to be sent to county jail with no bail, he needs to be charged and then he needs to be convicted and sent to prison. Not just for the person who died today, but also for Gemmel Moore’s death. It wasn’t thoroughly investigated.” she added
You would think there would more people outraged about this situation. There has been some media coverage and protests in front of Buck’s apartment. On the other hand, there has not been daily reporting about the matter. Could it be that Buck’s influence and wealth make people look the other way? Dallas Fowler, a delegate to the California Democratic Party and someone who helped Cannick with her investigation, talked about the case. “I supported the effort to try to get our party chair at the time, Eric Bauman, to repudiate the actions and activities of Ed Buck, they were dead silent at the time. A number of these individuals, including Eric Bauman, received a number of contributions from Mr. Buck and so it really spoke to the cost of silence around that case. Six months ago, the District Attorney’s Office said they weren’t going to prosecute. Even though there were survivors of Ed Buck who spoke and could testify to the fact that he injected them against their will,” he said.
With that said, it seems Buck’s influence and money have played a role in the lack of investigation and persecution. The question is, will the silence enable Buck to strike again?