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Contested death (2000 to present)

Ben Keita

OpenJan 9, 2017 · Age 18 · Lake Stevens, WA

Who Ben was

Ben Keita was an 18-year-old from Lake Stevens, Washington, a Black Muslim teenager and the son of Ibrahima and Aissata Keita. He was set to graduate from Lake Stevens High School in 2017 and was already taking college classes at Everett Community College through the Running Start program, while also holding a job.

He dreamed of going to medical school, and his father says he hoped to become a medical examiner. Supporters describe him as intelligent and kind, a devoted son and brother. His father remembers him as a happy, generous young man with plans for his life.

Portrait of Ben Keita
Courtesy of CAIR Washington and the Keita family · where it was shared

In the words of those who knew them

  • “Ben was a happy, young man.”Ibrahima Keita, his father, to FOX 13 · source
  • “Now those dreams are over.”Ibrahima Keita, his father, to BuzzFeed News · source
  • “We love this community, but we don't want to live in fear because of our faith or color of our skin.”Ibrahima Keita, his father · source

What happened

Ben Keita, 18, a Running Start student from Lake Stevens, left his family's home on Nov. 26, 2016, without his car, phone or wallet, his family said. Police asked for help finding him two days later. On Jan. 9, 2017, his body was found hanging from a tree in the woods near the family's home, in an area searchers had covered weeks earlier. The Daily Herald reported that passersby found him.

The Snohomish County Medical Examiner first ruled the death a suicide, then, after the family questioned it, changed the manner of death to undetermined, saying there wasn't enough information for a conclusion. His father, Ibrahima Keita, called him "a very happy young man" and, with CAIR Washington, asked the FBI to investigate a possible hate crime. The family asked why four of Ben's co-workers weren't interviewed. On March 2, 2017, Police Chief John Dyer said the investigation hadn't uncovered any indication of a criminal act. The FBI's Seattle office reviewed the case, said it concurred and said it would reevaluate if new evidence emerged.

On March 24, Dyer said there was "zero evidence" of a crime. The state Attorney General's Office reviewed the police findings and suggested retracing the search, and a search-dog handler's map showed his route hadn't covered the spot. Muslim Advocates and 18 groups urged a full investigation, including possible bias, and in June 2017 the group wrote to police, the FBI and the Attorney General. No charges have been reported, and the ruling remains undetermined.

The case

Where found
Wooded area near his family's home; reported missing in late November 2016
Official finding
Undetermined (Snohomish County Medical Examiner, which first ruled it a suicide and then changed the manner of death to undetermined, citing insufficient information)
Time to finding
Not established
Investigation
Lake Stevens Police said there was 'zero evidence' of a crime. Muslim Advocates and 18 civil rights and religious groups urged a full investigation, including possible bias.
Family position
The family rejects the suicide finding and, with CAIR Washington, asked the FBI to investigate a possible hate crime. They said four co-workers were never interviewed.
Public evidence
Medical examiner's revised finding of undetermined.
Federal review
The FBI Seattle field office reviewed the case and said the evidence did not indicate a crime, but that it would re-evaluate if new information developed. The state Attorney General's Office also reviewed police findings.
Last verified
2026-10-18
Verification note: Exact discovery date not stated in the source; reported as January 2017.

Sources

Record history

  1. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
  2. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Date found: 2017-01-09
    • Date label if approximate: Blank
    • Where found: Wooded area near his family's home; reported missing in late November 2016
    • Official finding: Undetermined (Snohomish County Medical Examiner, which first ruled it a suicide and then changed the manner of death to undetermined, citing insufficient information)
    • Investigation: Lake Stevens Police said there was 'zero evidence' of a crime. Muslim Advocates and 18 civil rights and religious groups urged a full investigation, including possible bias.
    • Family position: The family rejects the suicide finding and, with CAIR Washington, asked the FBI to investigate a possible hate crime. They said four co-workers were never interviewed.
    • Federal review: The FBI Seattle field office reviewed the case and said the evidence did not indicate a crime, but that it would re-evaluate if new information developed. The state Attorney General's Office also reviewed police findings.
  3. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  4. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Portrait added (Courtesy of CAIR Washington and the Keita family)
  5. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Ben Keita
    • Age: 18
    • Date found: 2017-01-01
    • Date label if approximate: Jan 2017
    • City or county: Lake Stevens
    • State: WA
    • Where found: Tree in a wooded area; missing since late November 2016
    • Official finding: Undetermined (medical examiner; first ruled suicide, later changed)
    • Time to finding: Not established
    • Investigation: Lake Stevens Police said they found no evidence of a crime. The medical examiner changed the manner of death from suicide to undetermined, noting a K-9 search weeks earlier hadn't found him and the unusual height at which he was found.
    • Family position: His father said he had no history of depression or anxiety, and the family says several co-workers were never interviewed.
    • Public evidence: Medical examiner's revised finding of undetermined.
    • Federal review: FBI agreed to review the death in 2017 at the request of CAIR Washington; no outcome reported in sources reviewed.
    • Verification note: Exact discovery date not stated in the source; reported as January 2017.
    • Sources updated
Ben Keita, Lake Stevens, WA · Found Hanging: Case Tracker