No answers from Wilder on museum

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY) - 10 On Your Side asked former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder some tough questions about where the money for his U.S. National Slavery Museum went. Right now, the museum is out of money, out of hope and in bankruptcy protection.

When Wilder didn't have an answer for tax form discrepancies, Virginia Asst. U.S. Trustee Robert Vanarsdale said, "The money issues look like a serious mess up."

Wilder claims he can build a scaled-down version of the museum on a 37-acre site in Fredericksburg, Va.

"It's not a tough day for me," Wilder said as he entered a Richmond courthouse. But there have been a lot of tough days for Suffolk resident Therbia Parker. Parker loaned a number of personal artifacts depicting slavery and racism in America to Wilder. 

"I feel like Doug Wilder has screwed over me. I'm a little person, and he thinks he doesn't have to respond to me," Parker said.

Parker's collection was to be a part of the museum, where presently only weeds overrun the Spirit of Freedom Garden.

10 On Your Side confronted Wilder outside court, presenting him with the contract that states if the slavery museum was not built Parker's artifacts would be returned. Wilder refused to take the contract.

Wilder was also asked about a 2005 tax document with a beginning balance of  $1.6 million. Add to that balance $1 million in contributions. $600,000 went out in expenses that year, but the year end balance was only $315,000, a discrepancy of $1.69 million.

In court, Wilder could not explain the discrepancy and refused to answer questions outside the court about them.

Wilder said the scaled down version of the museum can be built by fundraising the money.  When asked what was the last big contribution he received he said, "We got a nice contribution from a 13 or 14-year-old girl who came in and gave money."

The teen contributed because she was touched by what the museum could be. She was touched by the Spirit of Freedom Garden, the only completed portion of the $176 million project.

There is some good news. Court officials assured 10 On Your Side that the storage locker company is not allowed to sell off any of Therbia Parker's belongings. Period.