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Contested death (2000 to present)

Amanuel "Amani" Kildea

Ruled suicideJun 28, 2020 · Age 20 · Morris Township, NJ

Who Amanuel was

Amani Kildea was born in Ethiopia and was adopted from Addis Ababa in 2005, when he was 5, by the Kildea family. He grew up in Washington Township in Morris County, New Jersey, with two younger siblings. His father, Rev. Tom Kildea, is a Lutheran pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

He played football at West Morris Central High School. In February 2020 he graduated from Army Reserve basic training as a military policeman, and he was set to start at James Madison University that fall. He hoped to build a career with the FBI or the CIA.

His father wrote that Amani was athletic, cherished time with his friends, and had become "American through and through." His family also described him as exceptionally bright.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “Everyone who met him, who knew him, young and old, admired him and loved him.”His father, Rev. Tom Kildea · source
  • “He will be a part of our family forever, and we trust he is safe in the arms of Jesus.”His father, Rev. Tom Kildea · source

What happened

On the afternoon of Sunday, June 28, 2020, visitors at Lewis Morris County Park in Morris Township, New Jersey, found Amanuel "Amani" Kildea, 20, in the park's Sugarloaf section. A 911 call came in at about 2:47 p.m., and Morris County Park Police responded, joined by the Sheriff's crime scene unit and the Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit. None of the coverage reviewed says when Amani was last seen.

On July 1, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said the medical examiner had ruled the death a suicide and that there was no cause to believe criminality was involved. The same day, his father, Rev. Tom Kildea, posted a public tribute. Online, a Change.org petition calling for a fuller investigation drew nearly 25,000 signatures by July 3 (NJ 101.5), and Black Lives Matter Morristown's founder called for an independent autopsy. On July 3, the prosecutor said the investigation "remains open and has not concluded." Amani's family held a private funeral at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

On Sept. 30, 2020, the Prosecutor's Office announced the investigation had concluded. It said the medical examiner found no trauma inconsistent with the ruling, found no evidence of criminality or of any connection to another person or group, and that the New Jersey Attorney General's Office agreed. The office said it would make no further comment. The ruling stands, and no federal review has been reported.

The case

Where found
Wooded area near a hiking trail in Lewis Morris Park
Official finding
Suicide (Morris County Medical Examiner, announced by the Morris County Prosecutor July 1, 2020). Prosecutor's investigation concluded Sept 30, 2020, with no evidence of criminality.
Time to finding
3 days
Investigation
A passerby called 911 at about 2:47 p.m. Morris County Park Police, the Sheriff's crime scene unit and the Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit investigated, with help from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office. On July 3, 2020, the prosecutor said the investigation remained open. On Sept 30, 2020, the Prosecutor's Office said it had concluded, found no evidence of criminality and no link to any other person or group, and that the New Jersey Attorney General's office was consulted and agreed.
Family position
His father, Rev. Tom Kildea, publicly accepted the ruling and described his son as someone who "felt deeply and was broken in ways that very few could see or would ever know" (Morristown Green, July 1, 2020).
Public evidence
Black Lives Matter Morristown and 52 signers wrote to Gov. Phil Murphy asking the Attorney General to take over the case, release the medical examiner's report and consider a second autopsy (InsiderNJ, July 24, 2020). An online petition questioning the ruling drew wide attention. His death was listed in national coverage of hanging deaths in June 2020 (Boston Globe, Amsterdam News).
Federal review
None reported. The BLM Morristown letter was copied to the DOJ Civil Rights Division.
Last verified
2026-10-28
Verification note: Amsterdam News (July 9, 2020) said his family and local activists rejected the ruling; Morristown Green and NJ101.5 reported that his father accepted it, so status is 'ruled'. Petition size differs: NJ101.5 (July 3) said nearly 25,000 signatures; the InsiderNJ letter (July 24) said over 731,200. PIX11 (July 3) reported prosecutors saying the death had 'not been declared a suicide' even though the July 1 announcement cited the medical examiner's suicide ruling.

Sources

Record history

  1. Oct 28, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
  2. Oct 27, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Amanuel "Amani" Kildea
    • Age: 20
    • Date found: 2020-06-28
    • City or county: Morris Township
    • State: NJ
    • Status: Ruled suicide
    • Where found: Wooded area near a hiking trail in Lewis Morris Park
    • Official finding: Suicide (Morris County Medical Examiner, announced by the Morris County Prosecutor July 1, 2020). Prosecutor's investigation concluded Sept 30, 2020, with no evidence of criminality.
    • Time to finding: 3 days
    • Investigation: A passerby called 911 at about 2:47 p.m. Morris County Park Police, the Sheriff's crime scene unit and the Prosecutor's Major Crimes Unit investigated, with help from the Warren County Prosecutor's Office. On July 3, 2020, the prosecutor said the investigation remained open. On Sept 30, 2020, the Prosecutor's Office said it had concluded, found no evidence of criminality and no link to any other person or group, and that the New Jersey Attorney General's office was consulted and agreed.
    • Family position: His father, Rev. Tom Kildea, publicly accepted the ruling and described his son as someone who "felt deeply and was broken in ways that very few could see or would ever know" (Morristown Green, July 1, 2020).
    • Public evidence: Black Lives Matter Morristown and 52 signers wrote to Gov. Phil Murphy asking the Attorney General to take over the case, release the medical examiner's report and consider a second autopsy (InsiderNJ, July 24, 2020). An online petition questioning the ruling drew wide attention. His death was listed in national coverage of hanging deaths in June 2020 (Boston Globe, Amsterdam News).
    • Federal review: None reported. The BLM Morristown letter was copied to the DOJ Civil Rights Division.
    • Verification note: Amsterdam News (July 9, 2020) said his family and local activists rejected the ruling; Morristown Green and NJ101.5 reported that his father accepted it, so status is 'ruled'. Petition size differs: NJ101.5 (July 3) said nearly 25,000 signatures; the InsiderNJ letter (July 24) said over 731,200. PIX11 (July 3) reported prosecutors saying the death had 'not been declared a suicide' even though the July 1 announcement cited the medical examiner's suicide ruling.
    • Sources updated