Churchgoers made the grisly discovery on the morning of June 7, 1998. It was the dismembered body of a man, later identified as James Byrd Jr., 49. The horrific details soon emerged: Byrd, who was black, had been chained to the back of a pickup in the East Texas town of Jasper and dragged to his death. As the world recoiled at the news, three white men were arrested. All three were tried and convicted in 1999 -- two sentenced to die, the third to life in prison.

This site gathers all Houston Chronicle coverage since James Byrd Jr.'s death. It also includes the latest developments.

The Town  |  The Killing  |  The Victim  |  The Reaction  |   The Accused  |  Credits