Cornelius Bargainer, a 53-year-old Black male, lost his life on October 27, 2015, in Detroit, Michigan. Born on January 18, 1962, in McKenzie, Alabama, to John E. and Ethel M. Bargainer, he relocated with his family to Detroit in 1968, where he would spend the majority of his life. Known affectionately to friends and family as "Neal" or "Big Mouth," he was a longtime resident who had attended the Detroit Public School system and was a member of the New Starlight Baptist Church.
Throughout his life, Cornelius was known for his skilled hands and his ability to fix almost anything. He was a man of many interests, finding joy in boxing, playing cards, pitching horseshoes, and raising pit bulls. He also had a passion for music, cars, and swimming. Family was central to his world; he had raised a daughter, Kamilah R. Moore, with his late partner, Sylvia Ann Moore. He also had a son, DeAngelo C. Bargainer, who had preceded him in death. His obituary described him as someone who would do anything to assist others and deeply enjoyed the company of his friends and loved ones.
On that late October day, Cornelius became a victim of violence in the city he called home. Reports indicate he was killed, with subsequent inquiries and crime database listings categorizing his death as a homicide or death by force, specifically referencing a shooting. Despite the tragic nature of his passing, public records and available reports from the time do not detail any immediate arrests, and no information regarding suspects or subsequent convictions has surfaced in accessible sources. His case was later referenced in online communities dedicated to unsolved crimes, leaving the circumstances of his death without a publicly resolved conclusion in the years following the incident.
