The family of a 24-year-old man who was found hanging from a tree is seeking an independent autopsy and investigation after his death was deemed a suicide by officials in California.
Robert Fuller was found dead outside Palmdale City Hall on June 10. His family said they were ‘enraged’ that officials dismissed his death as a suicide, insisting he was not suicidal and that officers should start a murder investigation.
Fuller’s body was found only ten days after another man, 38-year-old Malcolm Harsch, was found hanging from a tree in Victorville, California.
Texas police revealed on Monday that the body of a Hispanic man was found, adding it was an ‘apparent suicide.’
Houston police confirmed on Twitter: “Homicide detectives are investigating the apparent suicide of an adult Hispanic male who was found about 9:05 a.m. in the 2500 block of Ella Blvd.
“Foul play is not suspected. Investigators are awaiting an autopsy by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences”
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo added: “Medical Examiner’s Office has identified deceased individual. He is a Hispanic/Caucasian male and described by his family as suicidal. No signs of foul play have been found and the evidence to date points to this being a suicide. Investigation continues.”
The FBI is currently investigating the deaths of Harsch and Fuller.
Fuller’s relatives said they would seek an independent autopsy and investigation as they were ‘enraged’ that the officials in California ‘immediately declared his death a suicide.’
The family has been joined by hundreds of protesters who are also calling for a separate investigation.
Family attorney Jamon R. Hicks said in a statement: “For African-Americans in America, hanging from a tree is a lynching. Why was this cavalierly dismissed as a suicide and not investigated as a murder?”
Hicks added: “We want complete transparency. To that end, the family should choose the pathologist to conduct the independent autopsy.”
Fuller’s sister, Diamond Alexander, spoke out at protests over her brother’s death, mentioning that he was ‘not suicidal.’
“Everything that they’ve been telling us has not been right we’ve been hearing one thing, we’ve been hearing another, and we just want to know the truth,” she expressed.
“We’re sitting here staring at this tree it don’t make no sense. My brother was tall, my brother was not suicidal. My brother was not with me not too long ago and my brother was a survivor, he was out here.”
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