Moore and Dee ’s mangled torsos were discovered on July 12 and 13 , 1964 during the frantic FBI search for James Chaney , Andrew Goodman , and Michael Schwerner , the three civil rights workers who disappeared on June 21 . When it was discovered that the bodies were those of two black men and not those of the civil rights workers , two of whom were white , media interest evaporated and the press moved on . While the FBI investigated the case and arrested two suspects in November 1964 , the district attorney concluded there was insufficient evidence for prosecution . The case was dropped by local authorities , some of whom were complicit in the crime , according to FBI and HUAC documents
three civil rights workers
Murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner
Mississippi Cold Case