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Body of missing black man found hanging from tree in Mississippi sparks hate crime probe | Body of missing black man found hanging from tree in Mississippi sparks hate crime probe |
(35 minutes later) | |
The body of a black man was found hanging from a tree yesterday two weeks after he was reported missing. | The body of a black man was found hanging from a tree yesterday two weeks after he was reported missing. |
He has been identified as Otis James Byrd by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the discovery prompted authorities to determine whether he was a victim of a hate crime. | He has been identified as Otis James Byrd by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the discovery prompted authorities to determine whether he was a victim of a hate crime. |
The body was discovered about half a mile away from his rented home just outside Port Gibson in the US state of Mississippi. The FBI are now investigating the case. | The body was discovered about half a mile away from his rented home just outside Port Gibson in the US state of Mississippi. The FBI are now investigating the case. |
“Mr Byrd was found hung in a tree, and because of that we want to ensure it was not in fact a racial hate crime,” said Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP. | “Mr Byrd was found hung in a tree, and because of that we want to ensure it was not in fact a racial hate crime,” said Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP. |
It was found by a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks game warden who was called in to help with the search of the man who was last seen on 2 March when his friend dropped him off at a casino. His family reported him missing six days later. | It was found by a Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks game warden who was called in to help with the search of the man who was last seen on 2 March when his friend dropped him off at a casino. His family reported him missing six days later. |
The body appeared to have been hanging in the tree “for some time,” Jim Walker, a spokesman for MDWFP said. | The body appeared to have been hanging in the tree “for some time,” Jim Walker, a spokesman for MDWFP said. |
FBI Special Agent Jason Pack said: “We’re trying to determine whether it’s a suicide or it was a homicide, and that’s where we’re at right now.” | FBI Special Agent Jason Pack said: “We’re trying to determine whether it’s a suicide or it was a homicide, and that’s where we’re at right now.” |
The house outside Port Gibson where Mr Byrd last lived Mr Byrd was convicted of the murder of 51-year-old Elizabeth Trim after he stole $101 from her to pay off a $10 court fine, according to The Vicksburg Post. He was sentenced in 1980 and was paroled in 2006 after serving 26 years. | |
Investigators are currently searching for evidence and the body is to undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death. | Investigators are currently searching for evidence and the body is to undergo an autopsy to determine the cause of death. |
Lynching, or public execution by hanging, was once a common practice in parts of the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An estimated 3,500 black people and 1,300 white people were lynched from 1882 to 1968. | Lynching, or public execution by hanging, was once a common practice in parts of the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. An estimated 3,500 black people and 1,300 white people were lynched from 1882 to 1968. |
The incident involving Mr Byrd comes seven months after 17-year-old black teenager Lennon Lacy was found hanging from a swing in North Carolina. | The incident involving Mr Byrd comes seven months after 17-year-old black teenager Lennon Lacy was found hanging from a swing in North Carolina. |
Mr Lacy’s death was quickly ruled a suicide by local police but the FBI announced in December that it was probing the death as suspicious. | Mr Lacy’s death was quickly ruled a suicide by local police but the FBI announced in December that it was probing the death as suspicious. |