Current Events > Black man found hanging from tree at Orlando park ruled suicide

(+) Yeah! (+)

Family says were not going to let this go'.

Family members of a Black man who wasfound hanging from a tree this past weekend say they believe his death was not a suicide, as the Orlando Police Department and Medical Examiners Office have initially determined.

Nevan Baker, 22, was found dead Sunday about 3:45 a.m. in Barker Park, near Camping World Stadium and the Washington Shores neighborhood, hanging by a rope from a tree, according to OPDs case report alarming circumstances that his family and many in the Orlando community say deserve increased scrutiny.

Im not done with this situation; its just beginning, said Sharhonda James, Bakers mom. Nobodys going to stand for this in this community.

Nevan Baker. Courtesy of his family.

OPD spokeswoman Autumn Jones said Thursday the investigation has concluded with the determination of a suicide. A case synopsis from the medical examiner, which OPD released Friday, ruled the manner of death suicide.

The Orlando Sentinel requested the Medical Examiners autopsy report, but the agency said the final report has not been completed.

The Sentinel has also requested photos from OPD of the scene and the body, because James said she noticed injuries, including swelling on his nose, bumps on his forehead and a misaligned jaw, when she saw his body in the morgue. The Sentinel does not intend to publish the photos.

My son didnt hang himself, James said. I know my child.

James said she has requested that OPD let her see any photos or videos from the scene and of her sons body from the night of his death, but has not been given them.

Were not going to let this go; the community is not going to let this go," James said. She said she has no reason to believe her son committed suicide.

But Jones said there were absolutely no [other] injuries to the body.

Officers have exhausted all leads and, at this time, there is no evidence of foul play or any kind of physical struggle, OPD posted in a statement Friday afternoon. This is a tragic case of suicide. ... We are keeping the victim, his family and friends in our thoughts during this difficult time.

After OPD officers were called to the park, they attempted live-saving measures but were unsuccessful, the OPD case report said.

Officers then spoke with people in the area, including the man who found Baker while walking his dog and a man whod been sleeping nearby under a park pavilion. None said they knew what led up to his death.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/breaking-news/os-ne-family-concerned-black-man-dies-hung-tree-20201009-dvbsyrs2mnab5avjjhklqr2x6y-story.html

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Man. They really need more cameras in public places so we can have a 100% for sure look into situations like this.

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um....wtf why does this keep happening? I still say these are murders.

Killmonger posted...

But Jones said there were absolutely no [other] injuries to the body.

Officers have exhausted all leads and, at this time, there is no evidence of foul play or any kind of physical struggle, OPD posted in a statement Friday afternoon.

Just typing his name into twitter, it seems to be the narrative of his family and people who demand justice that he was "beaten beyond recognition" when he was discovered. These quotes that the body had absolutely no damage or injuries to the body very clearly runs completely contrary to the aforementioned statement.

I don't know if they can release autopsy photos of at least his face, but that should certainly settle once and for all which account is truthful, right?

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Its sad that were at the point where even if this was a legit suicide, foul play will always be suspected.

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JustinMeme posted...

Just typing his name into twitter, it seems to be the narrative of his family and people who demand justice that he was "beaten beyond recognition" when he was discovered. These quotes that the body had absolutely no damage or injuries to the body very clearly runs completely contrary to the aforementioned statement.

I don't know if they can release autopsy photos of at least his face, but that should certainly settle once and for all which account is truthful, right?

The cops will just say "that stuff is evidence and we can't release evidence in an ongoing investigation".

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The Popo posted...

Its sad that were at the point where even if this was a legit suicide, foul play will always be suspected.

Wasn't that always the case? I don't think a dead body can show up anywhere with a tool for suicide like a rope or a gun or pills and still not get investigated for foul play.

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Zikten posted...

um....wtf why does this keep happening? I still say these are murders.

Didn't they actually have one or two on tape?

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The Popo posted...

Its sad that were at the point where even if this was a legit suicide, foul play will always be suspected.

They usually do anyway just to make sure. And I'm sure no parent wants to believe that their kid committed suicide, whether it was one or not.

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Suicide has been going up for years. There's no signs of it getting better.

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Lil_Bit83 posted...

They usually do anyway just to make sure. And I'm sure no parent wants to believe that their kid committed suicide, whether it was one or not.

I mean by the public at large, after an investigation occurs. Just the overall distrust in the police and the system.

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