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Contested death (2000 to present)

Bernard Burden

Ruled suicide, disputedOct 13, 2004 · Age 21 · Grantville, GA

What happened

Bernard Burden, 21, had been staying with a friend's family in Grantville, Georgia, about an hour south of Atlanta. Friends said he spent the night of Oct. 12, 2004, playing cards and on long phone calls, and was last heard from shortly before 5 a.m. Around 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 13 he was found dead at a tree in the yard of the home.

The local coroner ruled the death a suicide right away. After Bernard's mother, Tamathy Pless, objected, the coroner asked for further investigation, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over. A GBI official called it only a death investigation, and the autopsy was expedited. Tamathy said the account "just doesn't add up." Coweta County NAACP President Willie Jeter said the evidence did not fully prove a suicide and said the NAACP would seek state and federal investigations if the autopsy showed foul play. National Black outlets covered the case that November.

No final GBI finding has been located, and no one has been charged.

The case

Where found
Tree in the yard of a friend's family home where he had been staying
Official finding
Suicide (local coroner's initial ruling, per The Final Call). The GBI's death investigation was still open in November 2004; no final outcome has been made public.
Investigation
According to The Final Call, the local coroner ruled suicide right away, then asked for further investigation after his mother objected. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over. GBI Special Agent in Charge Jay T. Ricketson called it "only a 'death investigation'" at that stage (Atlanta Inquirer via Seattle Medium). The autopsy was expedited. No final GBI result was found.
Family position
His mother, Tamathy Pless, disputes the suicide finding: "It just doesn't add up!" (Atlanta Inquirer via Seattle Medium). She said he would have confided in her if he were depressed (The Final Call).
Public evidence
Coweta County NAACP President Willie Jeter said "the evidence doesn't fully prove a suicide" and planned a meeting with members. He said the state NAACP and federal authorities would be asked to investigate if the autopsy showed foul play. Residents interviewed by The Final Call largely doubted the ruling. Reports noted he had recently been in a relationship with a white teenager.
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-11-14
Verification note: Sources differ on details. The Seattle Medium (Atlanta Inquirer/NNPA, Nov. 10, 2004) says he was found in a front yard; The Final Call says a backyard. No final finding from the GBI or the medical examiner has been made public.

Sources

Record history

  1. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Official finding: Suicide (local coroner's initial ruling, per The Final Call). The GBI's death investigation was still open in November 2004; no final outcome has been made public.
    • Verification note: Sources differ on details. The Seattle Medium (Atlanta Inquirer/NNPA, Nov. 10, 2004) says he was found in a front yard; The Final Call says a backyard. No final finding from the GBI or the medical examiner has been made public.
  2. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Bernard Burden
    • Age: 21
    • Date found: 2004-10-13
    • City or county: Grantville
    • State: GA
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: Tree in the yard of a friend's family home where he had been staying
    • Official finding: Suicide (local coroner's initial ruling, per The Final Call); GBI death investigation still open as of November 2004; final outcome not located
    • Investigation: According to The Final Call, the local coroner ruled suicide right away, then asked for further investigation after his mother objected. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over. GBI Special Agent in Charge Jay T. Ricketson called it "only a 'death investigation'" at that stage (Atlanta Inquirer via Seattle Medium). The autopsy was expedited. No final GBI result was found.
    • Family position: His mother, Tamathy Pless, disputes the suicide finding: "It just doesn't add up!" (Atlanta Inquirer via Seattle Medium). She said he would have confided in her if he were depressed (The Final Call).
    • Public evidence: Coweta County NAACP President Willie Jeter said "the evidence doesn't fully prove a suicide" and planned a meeting with members. He said the state NAACP and federal authorities would be asked to investigate if the autopsy showed foul play. Residents interviewed by The Final Call largely doubted the ruling. Reports noted he had recently been in a relationship with a white teenager.
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: Sources differ on details. The Seattle Medium (Atlanta Inquirer/NNPA, Nov 10, 2004) says front yard; The Final Call says backyard. The two outlets also give different surnames for the friend's family. Those people are not accused of anything and are left unnamed. The final GBI and medical examiner finding was not located; confirm before treating the status as settled.
    • Sources updated