Body of Missing African-American Man Found Hanging From Mississippi Tree
BY NINA GOLGOWSKI
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, March 19, 2015, 4:45 PM
The NAACP has reportedly identified the body as Otis James Byrd, 54, who was last seen on March 2.
Federal authorities are investigating the discovery of a missing African-American man who was found hanging from a tree in Mississippi during a ground search Thursday.
The remains were discovered in woods a half-mile from the man's last known residence in Claiborne County, about 60 miles southwest of Jackson, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jason Pack told the Daily News.
The NAACP's local branch identified the man as 54-year-old Otis James Byrd, who vanished nearly three weeks ago, MSNewsNow reported.
He was last seen when a friend dropped him off at Vicksburg’s Riverwalk Casino, approximately 30 miles north of where the body was found.
The body was found during a search near these woods Thursday. It's a half-mile from the man's last known residence.
"After several days of missing, (he) was found hanged to death," the NAACP stated in an email sent to the Department of Justice and obtained by the news site. They asked that the federal government "join the current investigation of the suspicious hanging death of Mr. Otis Byrd."
In an email to The News, Pack did not say whether foul play is suspected at this time and did not confirm the man's identity as Byrd. He said the man found Thursday had been missing since March 2, the same date Byrd was reported missing.
Officials described the man to WAPT News as found hanging by a bed sheet around his neck. His hands were not tied up and he was wearing a skull cap on his head.
Records show Byrd served a little more than 25 years in prison for murder. He was paroled in 2006.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, the FBI and the Claiborne County Sheriff department are collaborating in the investigation, Pack said.
According to the state's department of corrections, Byrd served 25 years in prison for the murder of Lucille Trimm in Claiborne County after a 1980 conviction.
Records show he robbed the woman of $101. He was paroled on Nov. 2, 2006.
The coroner, reached by The News, said they are awaiting the results of local and federal officials' investigation before releasing or confirming the man's identity.
ngolgowski@nydailynews.com
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Thursday, March 19, 2015, 4:45 PM
The NAACP has reportedly identified the body as Otis James Byrd, 54, who was last seen on March 2.
Federal authorities are investigating the discovery of a missing African-American man who was found hanging from a tree in Mississippi during a ground search Thursday.
The remains were discovered in woods a half-mile from the man's last known residence in Claiborne County, about 60 miles southwest of Jackson, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Jason Pack told the Daily News.
The NAACP's local branch identified the man as 54-year-old Otis James Byrd, who vanished nearly three weeks ago, MSNewsNow reported.
He was last seen when a friend dropped him off at Vicksburg’s Riverwalk Casino, approximately 30 miles north of where the body was found.
The body was found during a search near these woods Thursday. It's a half-mile from the man's last known residence.
"After several days of missing, (he) was found hanged to death," the NAACP stated in an email sent to the Department of Justice and obtained by the news site. They asked that the federal government "join the current investigation of the suspicious hanging death of Mr. Otis Byrd."
In an email to The News, Pack did not say whether foul play is suspected at this time and did not confirm the man's identity as Byrd. He said the man found Thursday had been missing since March 2, the same date Byrd was reported missing.
Officials described the man to WAPT News as found hanging by a bed sheet around his neck. His hands were not tied up and he was wearing a skull cap on his head.
Records show Byrd served a little more than 25 years in prison for murder. He was paroled in 2006.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, the FBI and the Claiborne County Sheriff department are collaborating in the investigation, Pack said.
According to the state's department of corrections, Byrd served 25 years in prison for the murder of Lucille Trimm in Claiborne County after a 1980 conviction.
Records show he robbed the woman of $101. He was paroled on Nov. 2, 2006.
The coroner, reached by The News, said they are awaiting the results of local and federal officials' investigation before releasing or confirming the man's identity.
ngolgowski@nydailynews.com
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