The Final Call

Family wants federal probe into Mississippi hanging

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GREENWOOD, Miss. - The family of Frederick Jermaine Carter wants the federal government to take over the investigation into his hanging death in Mississippi.

Birmingham, Ala., attorney Valerie Hicks-Powe, who represents the family, told the Greenwood Commonwealth that the family wants another investigation after a medical examiner's report drew no conclusion about young Carter's death.

Mr. Carter, a Black man from Sunflower, was found Dec. 3 hanging by a rope from a tree in a field in North Greenwood. His body was discovered two days after Mr. Carter walked away from a work site.

Local officials have said the death was a suicide. The family says it was not,

On March 21, a deputy state medical examiner released an autopsy report that confirmed Mr. Carter died from hanging but listed the manner of death as “pending investigation.”

Related news:

Family seeks expert second opinion in hanging case (FCN, 12-30-2010)

Hundreds pack church, remember Mississippi hanging victim (FCN, 12-23-2010)

Community refuses to accept suicide (FCN, 12-23-2010)

Blacks doubt death in small Southern town is a suicide (FCN, 12-16-2010)