黒人／ボイコット man's death in Mississippi: Lynching or 自殺?

By Associated 圧力（をかける）

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SCOTT COUNTY, 行方不明になる. (AP) - On the night of Feb. 8, 2018, Willie Andrew Jones Jr. and Alexis Rankin argued in the car on the way to her parents' home in Scott 郡, Mississippi.

The couple were going through a rough patch in their 関係, but they had a 3-month-old child together, and the 21-year-old Jones 手配中の，お尋ね者 to reconcile.

They continued fighting when they arrived at the 19-year-old Rankin´s home, where a group of her family members was staying. At some point, Jones walked out, leaving Rankin inside. Not long afterward, Rankin´s stepfather was calling 911 to say Jones was dead.

The 黒人／ボイコット man was 設立する hanging from a tree in the yard of his white girlfriend´s home, 50 feet (15 メーターs) from the house and about 5 feet (1.5 メーターs) from the roadway.

The young man´s feet were touching the ground and his 膝s were bent. His 団体／死体 was 低迷d under the young pecan tree, a blue and white cloth belt wrapped around his neck. A yellow nylon cord 大（公）使館員d to the buckle was tied around a 支店 of the tree.

The 郡保安官's department 支配するd the hanging a 自殺; Jones' family believes he was lynched. The 事例／患者 has touched a raw 神経 in a 明言する／公表する whose past is tainted by the たびたび（訪れる） lynchings of 黒人／ボイコット people, and at a time of 国家の reckoning over how 法律 施行 interacts with African Americans and other 少数，小数派s.

Tammie Townsend holds a collage of photographs of her eldest son, Willie Jones Jr., 21, with family members, as she speaks about the incident where he was found hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott County yard three years ago, April 27, 2021 at his grandmother's home in Forest, Miss. The col lage are in the form of a "D," which played off his nickname, "Duke." A Hinds County judge recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil suit related to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tammie Townsend 持つ／拘留するs a collage of photographs of her eldest son, Willie Jones Jr., 21, with family members, as she speaks about the 出来事/事件 where he was 設立する hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott 郡 yard three years ago, April 27, 2021 at his grandmother's home in Forest, 行方不明になる. The collage are in the form of a "D," which played off his 愛称, "Duke." A Hinds 郡 裁判官 recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil 控訴 関係のある to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Jones' family 辞退するs to 受託する the 郡保安官's 判決，裁定 and is asking that the 事例／患者 be 再開するd. After 検察官，検事s 最初 拒絶する／低下するd to move 今後 with 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金s, the family とじ込み／提出するd a wrongful-death 訴訟 主張するing that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O´Bryant Jr., either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる Jones from 殺人，大当り himself. O´Bryant never 答える／応じるd to the 訴訟, and in April, a Jackson-area 裁判官 awarded 親族s の近くに to $11.4 million.

によれば a police 報告（する）／憶測, O´Bryant told an officer that Jones said he was going to kill himself just before he walked out. O'Bryant said he then saw Jones walk across the 前線 yard with a rope in his 手渡す, but he said he didn't take the 脅し 本気で.

Jones´ mother, Tammie Townsend, said her son had never 表明するd suicidal thoughts to her. She said he had a sports 傷害 that 妨げるd him from 存在 able to 解除する his arm above his 長，率いる, something she said would have made it 肉体的に impossible to hang himself.

Jones´ family says O´Bryant was prejudiced against Jones because of his race and didn´t 認可する of his stepdaughter dating a 黒人／ボイコット man. The 訴訟 明言する／公表するs that O´Bryant has a history of erratic and violent 行為 and （人命などを）奪う，主張するs he made 脅すing comments about Jones in the past, 同様に as about another of Rankin´s boyfriends, who is also 黒人／ボイコット.

O´Bryant adamantly 否定するs the 主張s.

"If they had seen anything even a little wrong, I´d have been thrown in 刑務所，拘置所," he said in an interview with The Associated 圧力（をかける）. "They´re trying to make it seem like I´m some big 長，率いる white supremacist or something. I didn´t touch him."

O´Bryant said he never 答える／応じるd to the 訴訟 or defended himself in 法廷，裁判所 because he never received a 召喚するs, though 法廷，裁判所 記録，記録的な／記録するs 示す the paperwork was mailed to him and also 手渡す-配達するd to a family member living at his house. O´Bryant said the 親族 was struggling with 麻薬 中毒 at the time and never gave it to him.

He says he now wants to 控訴，上告 but doesn´t have the money to 雇う a lawyer.

Working as a car mechanic, O'Bryant said he can't put together $11 some days. "I sure don't have $11 million," he said.

At the same time, he said, his family has been 軍隊d to move from their home. He said that after Jones´ death, a 運動-by shooter sprayed his house with 弾丸s while his grandchildren were inside.

But Jill Collen Jefferson, a civil 権利s 弁護士／代理人／検事 代表するing the family, 述べるd the 事例／患者 as "a modern-day lynching."

類似の 主張s have arisen in other 明言する／公表するs. Just last week in Massachusetts, the family of a 16-year-old 黒人／ボイコット girl who was 設立する dead in a wooded area in April were contesting a 医療の examiner's finding that she hanged herself from a tree.

And in the spring of 2020, family members and 行動主義者s すぐに called for その上の 調査 after four 黒人／ボイコット people were 設立する hanging from trees in the （期間が）わたる of one month in California, New York and Texas. 当局 支配するd every 事例／患者 to be a 自殺.

Civil 権利s 行動主義者s have 主張するd that 黒人／ボイコット people are いっそう少なく likely to take their own lives by hanging.

"黒人／ボイコット men don´t hang themselves," Jackson 行動主義者 Nia Umoja told the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant in 2019, after Jones´ death. "We know our past."

There is 理解できる 不信 of 法律 施行 within the 黒人／ボイコット community because of a long history in the U.S. of public 公式の／役人s using 判決，裁定s of 自殺 to cover up lynchings, によれば Jay Driskell, a 協議するing historian with The Civil 権利s and Restorative 司法（官） 事業／計画（する） at Northeastern University.

"We legitimately do not 信用 the 公式の／役人 transcripts of ... police and 裁判官s and 捜査官／調査官s because they´ve proven so untrustworthy in the past," Driskell said.

From 再建 through 1950, when lynchings were at their highest, Mississippi had more than any other 明言する／公表する, によれば the Equal 司法（官） 率先. During that time, the 明言する／公表する had 655 lynchings compared to 593 in Georgia and 549 in Louisiana.

Today, 郡保安官 マイク 物陰／風下 公式文書，認めるd, Scott 郡 is a melting マリファナ where people live and work together 平和的に, 大部分は because of the factories and mills in the area.

物陰／風下, who is white, 拒絶するs the idea that Jones was lynched. He said he 信用s the work of his 捜査官／調査官s on the 事例／患者, many of whom are 黒人／ボイコット. He 公式文書，認めるd that his office passed the 事例／患者 along to the Mississippi Bureau of 調査 and the 連邦検察局. A 大陪審 saw the 証拠 and did not think there was 推論する／理由 to 起訴する, however.

"My department - no ifs, ands or buts about it - if we felt that someone had been 的d because of race, not only would we make that 逮捕（する）, it would be very public," he said.

One 推論する／理由 物陰／風下 said 捜査官／調査官s felt Jones' death was a 自殺 is that O´Bryant himself comes from a multiracial family. He had a 黒人／ボイコット stepfather, has five biracial grandchildren and has lived in 大多数-黒人／ボイコット 近隣s all his life.

But Jefferson, the Joneses´ lawyer, 公式文書，認めるd that 存在 around 黒人／ボイコット people doesn´t 妨げる someone from 存在 人種差別主義者. In fact, that could be more of a 推論する／理由 for O'Bryant to 激しく打ちのめす, she said.

の中で other 主張s, the 訴訟 主張するs O´Bryant once 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d at a different 黒人／ボイコット boyfriend of Rankin's with a broken 瓶／封じ込める while shouting racial epithets. O´Bryant 否定するs this.

He did 認める that when he was young, he was told in church that interracial dating was wrong.

"I still feel that it´s not 権利, but hey, it is what it is. I ain´t against it," O'Bryant said. He 追加するd that he liked Jones, who was respectful and helped him on building 事業／計画（する）s.

Rankin is now married to a 黒人／ボイコット man. She said O'Bryant has never tried to dissuade her from dating someone of another race.

Townsend, Jones' mother, 述べるd her son as a "country boy," who loved dogs, chickens and most of all, his horse Fancy, which he 棒 every day. He was a talented sketch artist, played for the high school football team and had dreams of 存在 a 監督者 on an oil pipeline.

He met Rankin in eighth grade and they began dating in 2017. Their baby boy was born later that year. Jones stayed at the O'Bryants' house often, the family said.

Townsend said the night of her son´s death, she received a call from the O´Bryants, who told her Jones and Rankin had been fighting and asked her to 選ぶ him up. She said they didn't say anything about him trying to 傷つける himself. When she called 支援する not long afterward, someone on the other end o f the line told her he had hanged himself.

"I knew that there´s no possible way that he did this," she said.

By the time Townsend arrived at the home, the street was already 非常線，警戒線d off with 罪，犯罪 scene tape.

When she was finally able to 見解（をとる） his 団体／死体, she saw what looked like scratch 示すs and cigarette 燃やすs. Her son´s shoulder appeared dislocated, something that often happened when it became jostled, she said.

捜査官／調査官s said the 場内取引員／株価s were from 注射s made when Jones´ 団体／死体 was embalmed. An 検視 did not 明らかにする／漏らす 調印するs of foul play, they said.

The past three years have been long for Townsend after losing her eldest son.

"I could get all the money in the world, but to have someone 支払う／賃金ing, like in 刑務所，拘置所 time, locked up for 殺人，大当り my son, that´s what I want," she said.

The 地区 弁護士／代理人／検事 for Scott 郡, Steven Kilgore, said his office is open to 追求するing a 犯罪の 事例／患者 if new 証拠 is brought 今後, but won´t 現在の a 事例／患者 to a 大陪審 with the same 証拠.

"If we had a 推論する／理由 to 再開する it, we would do it without hesitation," he said. "As of now, we don´t have a 推論する／理由 to do that."

___

Leah Willingham is a 軍団 member for the Associated 圧力（をかける）/報告（する）／憶測 for America 州議会議事堂 News 率先. 報告（する）／憶測 for America is a nonprofit 国家の service program that places 新聞記者／雑誌記者s in 地元の newsrooms to 報告（する）／憶測 on undercovered 問題／発行するs.

Tammie Townsend tears up as she speaks about her eldest son, Willie Jones Jr., and his attentiveness and love for his son at the family home in Forest, Miss., April 27, 2021. Jones, was 21 when he was found hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott County yard three years ago. A Hinds County judge recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil suit related to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tammie Townsend 涙／ほころびs up as she speaks about her eldest son, Willie Jones Jr., and his attentiveness and love for his son at the family home in Forest, 行方不明になる., April 27, 2021. Jones, was 21 when he was 設立する hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott 郡 yard three years ago. A Hinds 郡 裁判官 recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil 控訴 関係のある to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Attorney Jill Collen Jefferson speaks about her efforts to bring justice to the family of Willie Jones Jr., 21, who was found hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott County yard three years ago, outside his grandmother's home in Forest, Miss., April 27, 2021. A Hinds County judge recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil suit related to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

弁護士／代理人／検事 Jill Collen Jefferson speaks about her 成果／努力s to bring 司法（官） to the family of Willie Jones Jr., 21, who was 設立する hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott 郡 yard three years ago, outside his grandmother's home in Forest, 行方不明になる., April 27, 2021. A Hinds 郡 裁判官 recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil 控訴 関係のある to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin recalls on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott County, Miss. After a while, Jones, who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin 解任するs on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる. After a while, Jones, who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin, hugs her oldest son, Peyton Lee, 5, as sh e recalls the events of the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott County, Miss. Shortly after arriving, Jones, who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin, 抱擁するs her oldest son, Peyton 物陰／風下, 5, as she 解任するs the events of the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる. すぐに after arriving, Jones, who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discov ered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin recalls on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott County, Miss. Shortly after arriving, Jones, who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin 解任するs on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる. すぐに after arriving, Jones, who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Harold O'Bryant, Jr., right, stepfather of Alexis Rankin, left, discuss the evening of February 8, 2018, when her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home in Scott County, Miss., as Alexis' mother, Melissa Rankin, and Alexis' oldest son, Peyton Lee, 5, listen, April 30, 2021. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claim ing wrongful death, alleging that O'Bryant, either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Harold O'Bryant, Jr., 権利, stepfather of Alexis Rankin, left, discuss the evening of February 8, 2018, when her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる., as Alexis' mother, Melissa Rankin, and Alexis' oldest son, Peyton 物陰／風下, 5, listen, April 30, 2021. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that O'Bryant, either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin recalls on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's home in Scott County, Miss. Shortly after arriving, Jones, who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin 解任するs on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when she and her on-again-off-again boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., argued while on their way to her stepfather's h ome in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる. すぐに after arriving, Jones, who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin holds a 2018 cell phone photograph of her former boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., holding their newborn son, as she recalls the events of February 8, 2018, when Jones was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home shortly after arriving there with Rankin. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Alexis Rankin 持つ／拘留するs a 2018 独房 phone photograph of her former boyfriend Willie Jones Jr., 持つ／拘留するing their newborn son, as she 解任するs the events of February 8, 2018, when Jones was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home すぐに after arriving there with Rankin. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that Rankin's stepfather, Harold O'Bryant, Jr., either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Harold O'Bryant, Jr., stepfather of Alexis Rankin recalls on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home in Scott County, Miss. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that O'Bryant, either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Harold O'Bryant, Jr., stepfather of Alexis Rankin 解任するs on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that O'Bryant, either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Harold O'Bryant, Jr., stepfather of Alexis Rankin recalls on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., who is black, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home in Scott County, Miss. The sheriff's department and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, both ruled the death a suicide. However, a Jackson-area judge in April awarded close to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil suit claiming wrongful death, alleging that O'Bryant, either killed Jones or failed to prevent him from killing himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Harold O'Bryant, Jr., stepfather of Alexis Rankin 解任するs on April 30, 2021, the evening of February 8, 2018, when her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Willie Jones Jr., who is 黒人／ボイコット, was discovered hanging from a tree in the yard of Rankin's family home in Scott 郡, 行方不明になる. The 郡保安官's department and the Mississippi Bureau of 調査, both 支配するd the death a 自殺. However, a Jackson-area 裁判官 in April awarded の近くに to $11.4 million to Jones' family in a civil 控訴 （人命などを）奪う，主張するing wrongful death, 主張するing that O'Bryant, either killed Jones or failed to 妨げる him from 殺人，大当り himself. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tammie Townsend tears up as she speaks about her eldest son, Willie Jones Jr., 21, and the incident where he was found hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott County yard three years ago, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, while at his grandmother's home in Forest, Miss. A Hinds County judge recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil suit related to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Tammie Townsend 涙／ほころびs up as she speaks about her eldest son, Willie Jones Jr., 21, and the 出来事/事件 where he was 設立する hanging from a tree in his girlfriend's Scott 郡 yard three years ago, Tuesday, April 27, 2021, while at his grandmother's home in Forest, 行方不明になる. A Hinds 郡 裁判官 recently awarded the family $11 million in a civil 控訴 関係のある to his death. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

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