A missing African American man in Mississippi was discovered dead today and hanging from a tree. It's unclear if his death was by murder or suicide, but the FBI has began investigating. Local police are looking into the death itself, and the FBI is looking into possible civil rights violations.
Otis Byrd, 54, had been missing since March 2 and reported missing since March 8. His body was found about a half-mile away from where he was living. The NAACP confirmed his identity, but authorities have yet to do so.
The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi are also conducting investigations, according to a Justice Department spokeswoman.
We'll have more as this story develops.
[via CNN]
