PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — After a man was found hanging from a tree in Prince George’s County over the weekend, elected leaders are speaking out about what actually happened and the mental health issues the county is facing.
The man was found by neighbors in the 9300 block of D’Arcy Road in an unincorporated area of Upper Marlboro on Sunday morning.
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County leaders said rumors immediately began to swirl online that the death was a lynching; however, investigators determined that was not the case.
Sources told 7News’ Brad Bell that the man has a history of mental health issues and that his family confirmed to them he was suicidal.
Additionally, sources said investigators found surveillance video of the man bringing supplies to the area to carry out the act. On Monday, the medical examiner determined the cause of the man’s death to be a suicide.
“It is not up to the Prince George’s County Police Department to make a determination on a manner of death. That was the medical examiner’s office, “County Executive Aisha Braveboy said Monday afternoon. “They have now made their official ruling of suicide. We will now continue the investigation because we think it’s important to get all of the information we can, collect all the evidence that we ca, because we think it can be informative for our community. We know that the community needs and deserves the truth.”
Braveboy held a news conference at noon with other county leaders to discuss the incident, dispel any rumors, and provide information on mental health resources available to the community.
Watch the whole news conference below:
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“An individual is dead and his family and friends are grieving. So let’s not forget about the person who took their life and what he must have been going through,” she said. “So I ask people not to politicize this. Don’t do that. Don’t ask for clickbait and use this tragedy to get followers or to get likes. Because this is a tragedy.”
If you or someone you know is considering self-harm, help is available 24/7 through the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline; just dial 988.