‘I was hoping he’d get some help … he (ended) up dying there.’
Stephanie, left, and Russell McDaniel look through pictures of their son, Rockez, who died while in custody of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
What brought Rockez McDaniel to 201 Poplar Ave. the day of his arrest began at his family’s Cordova home.
On July 20, he walked through the kitchen and into the backyard, where he was seated in what his father Russell McDaniel described as a “praying position.” He was wearing only underwear.
The 33-year-old Rockez had recently started obsessing over religion and exhibiting behavior concerning to his parents and siblings, with whom he lived.
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Memphis Police Department Shelby County Jail Rockez McDaniel Subscriber OnlyWe’re in the final countdown of 2025. ⌛🪩🎉
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Aarron Fleming
Aarron Fleming covers public safety for The Daily Memphian, focusing on crime and the local court system. He earned his bachelor’s in journalism and strategic media from the University of Memphis.
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