The deaths of several Black people found hanging in different parts of the country in 2026 have drawn public attention and raised questions from grieving families and community members. While the circumstances surrounding each case are different, some families have challenged authorities’ initial conclusions and called for greater transparency into how their loved ones died.
Here is what we know about the mysterious cases of all of the Black People found hanging throughout 2026 thus far.
Tasia Fortune
Tasia Fortune, a 29-year-old mother of four, was found hanging from a tree behind an abandoned house in Jackson, Mississippi, on Aug. 3. Her death remains under investigation, and her family has continued to demand answers and transparency surrounding the circumstances.
The investigation took a significant turn when Jackson Police Chief RaShall Brackney said authorities were investigating Fortune’s death as a potential homicide. According to WLBT, a man named Terence Anderson was named as a person of interest in connection with Fortune’s death. He appeared in Jackson Municipal Court on Aug. 4 and was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Judge Jeffrey Reynolds set his bond at $250,000, and Anderson is being held at the Hinds County Detention Center in Raymond, Miss.
Detectives told the court that Anderson had been questioned in connection with Fortune’s death. He denied any involvement in her death but acknowledged that he had been involved in an argument with her prior to her passing. Police also told the court that the two had been in a relationship, a claim Anderson denied when questioned by officers.
At this time, Anderson has not been publicly charged in connection with Fortune’s death. The case remains active, and the final medical examiner’s report could provide additional information about what happened to Fortune and how she died.
Justice Kai James
Justice Kai James, 21, was found hanging outside a cafeteria at a Job Corps center in Albany, Georgia, on June 21, according to Capital B News. His death immediately raised questions among his family and others who wanted more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Authorities initially described the death as suspicious while investigators worked to determine what had happened, the Albany Heraldnoted. Investigators examined available surveillance footage and other evidence as part of the case. While authorities have indicated that homicide was not suspected, the investigation and medical examiner findings have been central to determining the circumstances of James’ death.
James’ family has disputed the idea that he took his own life and has raised concerns about access to surveillance footage and the investigation itself. His death has therefore remained a source of concern for relatives seeking a clearer explanation of what happened. In a June 26 report by WALB, Albany officials said on the day of his death, James went to a hospital for a dislocated shoulder, but several witnesses claimed he was “acting strange” on campus the day of the incident.
His aunt, Chasity James, said she learned about his death through social media and questioned what had happened to her nephew. At the time, she said investigators had yet to give her an update.
“He was really trying to better himself,” James told WALB during a June 25 interview. “He lights up a room when he comes in. They couldn’t give me no answers to nothing really,” James said. “It’s an ongoing investigation and that there’s still an open investigation.”
Based on the information available, authorities had not established a publicly documented final determination that resolved all of the family’s concerns.
Kyle Bassinga
Kyle Bassinga, a 21-year-old man, was found dead in a wooded area of Fair Oaks Park in Marietta, Georgia, on Feb.18. His death was investigated by the Cobb County Police Department, which reviewed surveillance footage, witness statements and other evidence.
According to investigators, Bassinga entered the wooded area alone, and authorities found no evidence indicating that another person was involved in his death. Police ultimately investigated the case as a suicide after reviewing the available evidence. In March, Cobb County police said their investigation was nearing completion and that they did not anticipate additional information changing their findings.
“Based on the totality of the evidence, investigators have determined that Mr. Bassinga was alone at the time of his death, and there is no indication of foul play,” officials with the Cobb County Government wrote in a March 24 press release.
Authorities said the surveillance footage and witness accounts played an important role in their determination. Investigators also communicated with Bassinga’s family about the evidence gathered during the case.
Unlike some of the other cases discussed here, authorities in Bassinga’s case concluded their investigation without identifying evidence of foul play. His death was officially treated as a suicide.
To’Nea Nicole Miller
To’Nea Nicole Miller, 27, was found dead near Gwen Cherry Park in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on June 18. Authorities characterized her death as an apparent suicide and said investigators found no physical evidence of violence or foul play at the scene.
Miller’s family, however, has strongly disputed that conclusion and has continued to seek additional answers. Relatives have called for an independent investigation and have questioned whether authorities fully explored all possible explanations for her death.
Her sister, Teri Miller, publicly rejected the suicide determination during a June 26 press conference, telling reporters, “My sister would never do this,” and adding, “This is not what they’re telling you it is.”
Authorities have maintained that detectives conducted an investigation and found no evidence of foul play. The family’s disagreement with that conclusion means the case remains particularly contentious among those closest to Miller.
Juliana Umba Nzita
Juliana Umba Nzita, a 16-year-old immigrant from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was found dead near a church in Charlotte, North Carolina, on May 8. Her death was ruled a suicide by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner, and police subsequently closed their investigation.
However, the case has attracted significant public scrutiny because of questions surrounding how quickly authorities reached their conclusion and the investigative steps that were taken before the case was closed.
An investigation by The Charlotte Observer raised questions about several aspects of the case, including the decision not to perform a full autopsy, the handling of Nzita’s missing cellphone and whether the volunteer who discovered her body was interviewed. Her family and community advocates have continued to question the official ruling and have pushed for the case to receive additional scrutiny and be reopened. Even notable figures like Don Lemon and Ben Crump have brought attention to the bizarre case on their platforms.
Police have maintained that investigators found no evidence of an assault or foul play. The medical examiner’s office ruled the death a suicide, making that the official determination. Nzita’s family, however, continues to dispute the conclusion and has sought additional answers.
32-Year-old Black Man, Name Unknown
Details surrounding the case remain limited as authorities continue to investigate. On Aug. 15, 2026, at approximately 3:07 p.m., Raleigh police officers and medical personnel responded to 318 S. McDowell St. after receiving a report of a person hanging from a tree. When first responders arrived, they removed the individual from the tree and immediately began life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, the person was pronounced dead at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Authorities have indicated that there does not appear to be any evidence of foul play and are investigating the death as a suicide. Video evidence reportedly confirmed that the man in question, found hanging from a tree in downtown Raleigh, died by suicide, according to Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce, who shared the finding in August.
The victim’s mother told authorities that he had been “struggling with mental health issues,” according to a report from News Observer.
There are more cases out there, but they’re unreported.
Sadly, this list only scratches the surface. While the cases detailed above have received varying levels of media attention, there are other deaths that remain largely unreported, leaving families and communities searching for answers.
On Sept. 10, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) led 59 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), calling for a thorough, transparent and comprehensive federal investigation into the growing number of incidents involving Black people found hanging across the country. The lawmakers are seeking greater federal attention to the deaths and want the circumstances surrounding each case to be fully examined. The letter comes amid a series of deaths that have raised concerns about possible foul play, particularly in light of the painful history of lynching and racial terror in the United States.
The lawmakers described the growing number of Black people found hanging in public spaces as a national crisis. According to a recent report cited in the letter, more than 70 modern-day lynchings were documented across the United States between 2000 and 2025. In 2026 alone, at least 10 reported cases involving Black people found hanging have emerged, with victims ranging in age and living in communities across the country, including Mississippi, Michigan and New York. In several cases, grieving families have publicly challenged or questioned the conclusions reached by local and state authorities.
“Inaction by the federal government is tantamount to complicity. This is part of the legacy of racial terror in the United States, and this neglect has long-term consequences,” the lawmakers continued. “Not only are innocent lives lost, but lynching inflicts deep traumatic and psychological wounds on family members, neighbors, and the entire Black community.”
