Posted by Amanda Gathers
Incident Date: April 18, 2024
I want to be very clear before I even begin: this is not me trying to sensationalize a tragedy. This is me speaking as a human being, a mother, a sister, a watcher of patterns, and someone who believes that truth does not get offended by questions. When a life ends under confusing circumstances, silence is not peace, and closure cannot be rushed just because paperwork says so.
In April 2024, the Wilmington Police Department announced they had decided to close the case on the death of Joseph Valentine Flor D’Auvray III, determining that he died as the result of an accidental fall from the roof of a building. That conclusion may satisfy the system, but it clearly does not satisfy the family. And if it doesn’t satisfy the people closest to him, then something is still unresolved. Period.
According to official statements, the medical examiner’s report concluded that Val’s injuries were consistent with trauma from a fall, and Ben David, along with senior prosecutors, agreed there was no evidence of criminal conduct. On paper, that sounds definitive. But real life does not happen on paper, and deaths do not exist in isolation from the hours and days that lead up to them.
What continues to trouble me — and clearly troubles Val’s family — is what is not being addressed.
Body camera footage from April 2024, taken just one day before Val’s death, reportedly shows him telling officers that he feared for his life and believed he was being chased. That is not a minor detail. That is not background noise. That is critical context. And context matters when someone is found dead less than 24 hours later.
His brother, Xan, voiced what many people are thinking but are afraid to say out loud. Where in the official statement is any explanation for the night before? Where is the accountability surrounding the missing persons report that, according to the family, was not properly filed? If that report had been handled when it should have been, would Val still be alive today? These are not reckless accusations. These are reasonable, human questions.
Val was found on the property of Tru Colors Brewing on April 18, 2024, with a head wound. His father had already attempted to report him missing a full week earlier. That timeline alone should have slowed everything down, not accelerated a conclusion. Yet the case is being closed while the family is still trying to piece together what actually happened to their loved one.
Footage obtained by WECT shows an interaction between Val and police on April 17, 2024, the day before his death. Again, this is not incidental. When someone explicitly says they are afraid and believes they are being pursued, and then they turn up dead the next day, dismissing that fear feels deeply wrong.
Kingdom Influence Media exists for moments like this. Not to assign guilt. Not to stir outrage. But to say this plainly: truth does not rush. Justice does not panic when questioned. And faith does not require us to ignore uncomfortable details. If anything, faith demands integrity, transparency, and patience.
Labeling a death as “accidental” does not erase the responsibility to explain every step that led there. Families deserve honesty. Communities deserve clarity. And systems should never be so eager to close a file that they forget there was a real human life inside it.
You can close a case.
But you cannot close unanswered questions.
And until those questions from April 2024 are addressed honestly, this story is not over.
References & Source Notes
This informational commentary references publicly available statements, recorded footage, and family statements related to the death of Joseph Valentine Flor D’Auvray III in April 2024.
- Wilmington Police Department.
Official statement regarding the investigation and case closure of Joseph Valentine Flor D’Auvray III, released August 26, 2024. The department concluded the cause of death was an accidental fall from a building roof based on investigative findings and the medical examiner’s report. - Ben David, New Hanover County District Attorney’s Office.
Public comments confirming agreement with investigators and the medical examiner that the injuries sustained were consistent with an accidental fall and not criminal conduct. - WECT.
Broadcast reporting and obtained body camera footage depicting an interaction between Wilmington police officers and Joseph Valentine Flor D’Auvray III on April 17, 2024, one day prior to his death. Footage includes statements attributed to D’Auvray expressing fear for his safety. - Family statements from relatives of Joseph Valentine Flor D’Auvray III, including comments from his brother regarding unanswered questions surrounding the investigation, the handling of a missing persons report, and concerns about events occurring prior to April 18, 2024.
- Incident location reference: Tru Colors Brewing, Wilmington, North Carolina.
Site where Joseph Valentine Flor D’Auvray III was found deceased on April 18, 2024, as reported by local authorities and media outlets.
Disclaimer (Recommended for Kingdom Influence Media)
This post is an informational commentary based on publicly available sources and expressed concerns from family members. It does not allege criminal wrongdoing and is intended to encourage transparency, accountability, and thoughtful discussion. All individuals and agencies referenced are presumed to have acted within their legal authority unless proven otherwise.
