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News

Police Investigating Death of Widespread Panic Crew Member

Authorities in Athens, GA are investigating the death of longtime Widespread Panic equipment manager, Donald Garrie Vereen.

A message on the band’s website says Vereen, 49, passed away Wednesday morning “due to unexpected complications from his recent aneurism.” The message also reads, “The Vereen and Widespread Panic Families respectfully request that energies spent are not wasted on rumor and speculation.”

But local media, including the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Athens Banner-Herald, reported Vereen was stabbed and the medical examiner ruled it as a homicide. According to reports, a friend called 911 saying Vereen had committed suicide. Capt. Clarence Holeman with the Athens-Clarke County Police Department reportedly said Vereen had a stab-wound to the chest, but further evidence collected at Vereen’s home suggest it might not be a homicide. The police are expected to meet with the medical examiner later today.

Vereen’s death came just one day after Georgia’s House of Representatives and Senate honored Widespread Panic, commemorating the band’s 25th anniversary.

Comments

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Ali August 30, 2012, 23:43:36

I’ll take your word on Hankerson’s hand size because I holnstey didn’t bother to check it. He did catch the deep pass over the outside shoulder well. I’m not saying that the kid is trash, but he’s definitly not ahead of Baldwin on my board. Hankerson looked like the stereo-typical unathletic kid losing a game of dodgeball as he got pummeled by footballs, when he was supposed to be catching the ball. The gauntlet is designed to show flaws in a players game and no one showed more flaws then Hankerson.Newton was erratic and definitly not my #1 QB. I don’t care how fast he runs, how high he jumps, how far he can jump from a standing position. Accuratly throwing the ball is much more important to me then being an athlete. Mallet looked better then Newton when it came to being a QB and doing QB things to me. Both have red flags, so I’ll default to the red flags of the guy who throws the ball better.I also kept saying who’s that kid and rewinding just to see Ponder the one who threw the pass, so I totally agree with you on that. Ponder did very well.VA:F [1.9.11_1134](from 0 votes)