Contested death (2000 to present)

Clarence Otis Cole

Ruled suicide, disputedApr 2, 2001 · Age 43 · Linden, TX

The case

Where found: A tree in Cass County
Official finding: Suicide, per authorities as reported by LEVEL (2026). The agency and date of the ruling weren't found.
Investigation: Authorities in Cass County classified the death as a suicide. No further detail on the investigating agency was found.
Family position: Relatives rejected the suicide ruling. They said he had no history of depression, taught Sunday school and had plans tied to his daughter's graduation, and they questioned whether notes attributed to him were in his handwriting. His mother suggested he may have been targeted over an interracial relationship (as reported by LEVEL).
Public evidence: No autopsy findings or official records located.
Federal review: None reported
Last verified: 2026-11-14

Verification note: Only one source found, a 2026 opinion piece that cites JULIAN's "A Crimson Record" report generally. No contemporaneous 2001 news coverage was located. Agency, ruling date and family quotes need confirming against East Texas newspaper archives or the Crimson Record itself.

Sources

LEVEL, When Suicide Rulings for Black Men Smell Like Lynchings (Mar 1, 2026)

Record history

Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Clarence Otis Cole
- Age: 43
- Date found: 2001-04-02
- City or county: Linden
- State: TX
- Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
- Where found: A tree in Cass County
- Official finding: Suicide, per authorities as reported by LEVEL (2026). The agency and date of the ruling weren't found.
- Investigation: Authorities in Cass County classified the death as a suicide. No further detail on the investigating agency was found.
- Family position: Relatives rejected the suicide ruling. They said he had no history of depression, taught Sunday school and had plans tied to his daughter's graduation, and they questioned whether notes attributed to him were in his handwriting. His mother suggested he may have been targeted over an interracial relationship (as reported by LEVEL).
- Public evidence: No autopsy findings or official records located.
- Federal review: None reported
- Verification note: Only one source found, a 2026 opinion piece that cites JULIAN's "A Crimson Record" report generally. No contemporaneous 2001 news coverage was located. Agency, ruling date and family quotes need confirming against East Texas newspaper archives or the Crimson Record itself.
- Sources updated