PLP Cassell’s Death: Condolences Pour in From Politicians

The social and traditional media outlets early Monday morning were inundated by reports of the death of the political leader of the People’s Liberation Party, Dr. Daniel Cassell.

The Cassell family and the PLP are yet to speak, officially, on the situation, but reports say the 56-year-old psychotherapist, and business expert turned politician, was discovered unresponsive at his home in the state of New Jersey, USA, on Christmas Day. Cassell, prior to his death, had been under house arrest following his arrest on March 17, by the US government for a litany of allegedly financial malpractices.

He fell off the mountain on Sunday and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was a physiologist by profession and behavioral specialist consultant, who worked in the United States for years and established Kwenyan Professional Health Services—a buoyant medical care provider—prior to coming to Liberia to join the crowded, polarized political environment.

Condolence messages have been pouring in since. The political leader of the Liberty Party (LP), Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, and Liberians in their numbers have taken to social media to console the bereaved family and wish the deceased peace to his unknown destination.

Nyonblee: “I am saddened by the death of Daniel Cassell. The standard bearer of The PLP. My heartfelt condolences to his wife, children, family members, and the PLP.  Wow! Prayers for the family. Just a day ago, he posted a picture of him and his wife wishing everyone a Merry Christmas," writes journalist Patrick Honnah. Today, he is dead at age 56. This is what I call sudden death. This is unbelievably sad.” 

Sen. Abraham Darius Dillon: “So sad! Rest in Peace, Sir!”

Jeremiah Edison Paye: “The Earth is surely a place of passage for us humans. We are on Earth to spend time with our family and friends, and tomorrow we’ll disappear. We will not be able to say hi or have fun together again. So, it is good to always be nice to others; don’t hurt your family or friends; don’t distance yourself from your friends or family members; don't be haughty and arrogant and don't hold grudge or hate fellowmen,”

“All the money and material things we are chasing every day and night will be left behind. Beautiful clothes, beautiful women, handsome men, cars, and houses will definitely be left behind. Just yesterday, Dr. Daniel Cassell and his wife wished everyone a Merry Christmas, and today he was announced as a dead man!”

“Be nice to your loved ones, family members, and friends. Always love your fellowman, tomorrow is not promised to anyone. Rest in Peace, Dr. Cassell.”

Prior to his death, Cassell, a native of Lofa County, recently made known his quest to contest for the Liberian presidency in the ensuing October 2023 legislative presidential elections—a sole purpose for which he founded his political institution, PLP.

But his dream for the nation’s highest political seat experienced a setback a few months ago when he was arrested by the government of the United States on extortion, money laundering, and tax evasion charges.

The Acting Attorney General of the State of New Jersey, Matthew J. Platkin, and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor (OIFP) in September 2022 announced that a state grand jury had indicted Dr. Cassell on charges of first-degree money laundering, second-degree theft by deception, and multiple counts of conspiracy, insurance fraud, and other charges.