Lindsey Cross
Lindsey Cross was 15 years old and one of 69 boys held at the Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville, Arkansas. A fire broke out in the boys' dormitory around 4 a.m. on March 5, 1959, and 21 boys died, including him. His brother, Frank Lawrence, has spent most of his life trying to learn what happened, believes the fire was deliberately set, and hopes one day to exhume Lindsey's remains and bury him in the family plot in Hensley. Author Griffin Stockley points to deteriorated wiring as a cause, and a grand jury later named numerous individuals and agencies as responsible but brought no criminal charges.
Cause of death, as reported: Died in an accident (disputed; neglect alleged). Frank Lawrence, the victim's brother, believes the fire was deliberately set, while author Griffin Stockley points to deteriorated wiring that staff and agencies failed to repair, and a grand jury found numerous individuals and agencies responsible but returned no criminal charges.
Reported by: Frank Lawrence (brother) (family or their lawyers); Griffin Stockley (author); grand jury.