Continued
At approximately 8:32 AM [redacted] agreed to again board a fire boat to assist with the recovery effort in [an] attempt to provide a more precise location as to where she last saw CAMPBELL in the water, now that it was daylight.
***
[Redacted] directed the fire boat to a location that she provided, to the best of her recollection as where she saw CAMPBELL go underwater. This location was marked with a buoy.
***
Upon our arrival back at the ICP [incident command post], we were informed that the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) had arrived on scene and deployed Side Scan Sonar equipment to the area [redacted] identified and were searching that area, which was approximately 100-200 yards from the shore at [redacted]
***
At approximately 9:45 AM, I was informed that an area of interest had been identified by the MEP Side Scan Sonar, directly in the vicinity of where [redacted] identified last observing CAMPBELL.
At approximately 9:58 AM, we arrived on location as outlined by MEP [Massachusetts Environmental Police]. MSP [Mass. State Police] dive team members deployed into the water.
At approximately 10:00 AM, within minutes of entering the water, MSP divers recovered the body of a black male, fully submerged in the water … Divers estimated the water depth to be approximately seven to eight feet deep. I observed the body of a black make removed from the water and placed onto the deck of the boat…. I observed the male to be wearing a black t-shirt, black workout style shorts, and an Apple Watch on his left wrist, and a wedding band style ring on his left ring finger.
***
I met with CAMPBELL’S [redacted] and other family members and representatives on the CG [Coast Guard] dock in Menemsha. [Redacted] explained that CAMPBELL had taken swimming lessons in 2019 that consisted of one lesson a week for six weeks and described his swimming ability as “not a great swimmer.”
***
On Friday, August 18, 2023, I (Tpr. Dustin Shaw) was notified that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) determined that Tafari J. CAMPBELL’S cause of death was a result of a drowning (submersion in a body of water), and the manner of death is accidental, as determined by OCME Dr. Anand Shah.
***
On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at approximately 4:45 PM, I traveled to [redacted] in Edgartown and met with U.S. Secret Service SAIC Ben Murray for the purposes of viewing Secret Service surveillance footage of [redacted], Edgartown, from Sunday, July 23, 2023. My attention was drawn to a specific section of surveillance camera footage, beginning at approximately 6:54 PM on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
***
The following is a summary of my observations of the video footage provided to me from this specific vantage point and is not intended to be an exact depiction of the overall entirety of the surveillance footage from [redacted] On Sunday, July 23, 2023, at approximately:
6:54 PM; two (2) individuals identified as CAMPBELL and [redacted] are observed walking on the boardwalk from the area of the residence, toward the shoreline of Edgartown Great Pond. Both CAMPBELL’S and [redacted] appearance and clothing are consistent with prior descriptions. Once near the shoreline, it appears that CAMPBELL and [redacted] obtain paddleboards and paddles from a small alcove near the shoreline, and subsequently enter the water. 7:40 PM; Secret Service Agent [redacted] (Resue Swimmer) is observed running from his assigned post towards the shoreline of Edgartown Great Pond, utilizing his handheld radio. 7:42 PM; Agent [redacted] observed running from the shoreline of Edgartown Great Pond, towards the area of the Command Post. 7:43 PM; Agent [redacted] observed running back to shoreline of Edgartown Great Pond. 7:50 PM; USSS boat launches 7:57 PM; USSS vehicle/first responder vehicle arrives to the area of the shoreline of Edgartown Great Pond. 7:58 PM; First Edgartown Police vehicle arrives to the area of the shoreline. 7:59 PM; Second Edgartown Police vehicle arrives to the area of the shoreline.
A request has been made to obtain a copy of the above-described video and is pending its release as of the time of this report.
***
[I]t is my investigative opinion that the death of Tafari J. CAMPBELL is a result of an accidental drowning in Edgartown Great Pond, and is not criminal in nature, and foul play is not suspected. I respectfully request this case be classified as closed, pending any future information that would warrant it being re-opened.
The homicide/death report lists as seized evidence under “Property #1” an “Under Armour Baseball Hat (Black)” and in the description notes: “West Tisbury Firefighter Stephen Serusa recovers a black, Under Armour baseball hat in Edgartown Great Pond, floating in the marsh area of Turkeyland Cove … during search for Tafari CAMPBELL. Hat matches the description of CAMPBELLS hat he was last seen wearing. Hat later confirmed by witnesses to be CAMPBELLS.”
The report also notes that Property #2 is “1 USB flash drive containing two audio files (original 911 call and follow up call).” It was collected on August 9, 2023, and is described as “DCSO [Dukes County Sheriff’s Office] Original 911 Audio Recordings.”
Property #3 is a computer/telecom flash drive described as “CSSS [Crime Scene Service] Victim/Scene Photo Disc #1-1,” including the comment “One paper envelope containing Digital Video Disk (DVD-R-RW) Victim/Scene Photos.”
Property #4 is a flash drive containing autopsy photos.
Property #5 is a U.S. Coast Guard Station Menemsha log dated July 24, 2023. The comment section notes: “Tpr. Shaw retrieves US Coast Guard Station Menemsha Log dated “24JUL23” (1 page/double sided). Log signed by USCG Station Menemsha Command Staff.”
In a July 24 case master report, Shaw writes:
He was notified at 7:58 p.m. on July 23 of “a possible drowning in Edgartown Great Pond” by the Dukes County Regional Emergency Communications Center.
He was “briefed on situation by EFD [Edgartown Fire Department] Chief Alex Schaeffer” after Shaw arrived at the incident command post set up at Edgartown Great Pond, Wilsons Landing at 8:15 p.m. The report notes, “Chief Schaeffer identifies missing paddleboarder as Tafari CAMPBELL (DOB [redacted]).”
At 8:25 p.m., Shaw requested MSP Airwing assistance for a search of Edgartown Great Pond.
At 9:15 p.m., he boards a Secret Service boat, “along with USSS [Secret Service] Rescue Swimmers” to assist in searching for Campbell in Edgartown Great Pond.
At 11:30 p.m., Shaw disembarked from the USSS boat and returned to his command post, ended his duty that night and would return the following day at 5:00am.
At 7:55 a.m. on July 24, Shaw, along with Lt. Cosgrove, Capt. Benson and Major Farley of MSP arrived in Edgartown “for the interview of [redacted] (witness/survivor).” The entry notes, “Also present at the interview was USSS Special Agent Ben Murra [sic].”
At 10:00 a.m. Shaw was on board a Tisbury Fire Department boat along with a state police dive team, “at which time the body of a black male, matching the description of CAMPBELL was recovered from the Edgartown Great Pond…. Body was transported to CP [command post] at Wilsons Land[ing].”
At 10:25 a.m. “US Secret Service Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the [redacted] Protection Detail, [redacted], views and positively identified the body recovered from Edgartown Great Pond to be Tafari CAMPBELL (DOB [redacted]).”
At 11:21 a.m. “Chapman Funeral Home arrives at Wilsons Landing CP and transports the body of CAMPBELL, at the request of the OCME [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner], from CP to US Coast Guard Station Menemsha. Tpr. Shaw, DLT Cosgrove, DCAPT Benson, Major Farley and USSS SA [Special Agent] Murphy follow hearse to USCG [US Coast Guard].”
At 11:57 a.m. “The body of CAMPBELL arrives at U.S. Coast Guard Station Menemsha.”
At 1:57 p.m. Shaw goes to Coast Guard Station Menemsha to pick up its daily log from July 24, 2023 re: 2023-102-251 (the state police case number for Campbell’s death).
The final two entries indicate that at 4:45 p.m. Shaw arrives at a redacted location in Edgartown “re: meeting with US Secret Service SAIC [Special Agent in Charge] Ben Murray.” At 5:41pm they conclude their meeting and Shaw departs.”
The State Police write in their cover letter to Judicial Watch: “The Department conducted a diligent search of its records and is unable to locate any body worn and cruiser mounted video recordings. The Department is in the process of reviewing responsive records and will supplement this response."
A July 24, 2023, administrative log note lists the case as closed and includes the synopsis “US Secret Service Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge of the [redacted] Protection Detail [redacted], views and positively identified the body recovered from Edgartown Great Pond to be Tafari CAMPBELL (DOB [redacted]).”
“It is concerning that Judicial Watch had to push for several months to find out that Barack Obama was personally involved in the death investigation of his personal chef Tafari Campbell,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.
In August 2023, Judicial Watch released records it received from the Edgarton, MA, Police Department that show the Secret Service reported Obama’s Personal Chef Tafari Campbell missing and that the body was found using sonar. The records also detail that clothing was found separate from the body and that he was not wearing a life vest.
Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) ~ SEE FOR YOURSELF: Obama Chef Death Documents Revealed!
For full documents, go here: http://judicialwatch.org/obamas-personal-chef/
Video ~ http://twitter.com/i/status/1696613866078085536
The essential American soul is hard, isolate, stoic, and a killer. It has never yet melted. ~ D.H. Lawrence
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