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Contested death (2000 to present)

Otis James Byrd

OpenMar 19, 2015 · Age 54 · Port Gibson, MS

Who Otis was

Otis James Byrd was 54 and lived in a rented home outside Port Gibson, in Claiborne County, Mississippi. His family includes his sister, Florene Hodge, his stepsister, Tracy Wilson, and his nephew, Lekendrick Byrd.

He was convicted of murder in 1980 and paroled in 2006. His stepsister says he worked to turn his life around after his release: he went to church every Sunday and worked on offshore oil rigs. A family member called him a good, hardworking man, and classmates remembered a quiet man who always had a smile on his face.

He was last seen on March 2, 2015, and his family reported him missing. Through the search and the investigation that followed, they asked for answers and for closure.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “He tried to turn his life around. He was going to church every Sunday.”Tracy Wilson, his stepsister · source
  • “Nothing we can say will bring him back.”His sister, Florene Hodge · source
  • “Please, for the closure of this family, just come and say something.”His nephew, Lekendrick Byrd · source

What happened

Otis James Byrd, 54, rented a house on Rodney Road west of Port Gibson, Mississippi. His family said they hadn't seen him since March 2, 2015, and reported him missing. Vicksburg police confirmed he'd been at the Riverwalk Casino in Vicksburg before heading back toward Port Gibson, the Vicksburg Post reported, and authorities said he was last seen March 8.

On March 19, a state wildlife game warden helping with the search found him at a tree in the woods behind his house. The FBI led the investigation, joined by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Otis had been convicted of murder in 1980 and paroled in 2006. The FBI said it briefed the family on the autopsy on March 21 and March 24 but didn't release the results publicly. The family had his body cremated. Their attorney, Dennis Sweet III, said they didn't believe he'd died by suicide and would hire independent experts, including pathologist Michael Baden, to review records.

On May 29, 2015, the Justice Department said federal prosecutors and FBI agents found "no evidence to prove that Byrd's death was a homicide" and closed its civil rights investigation. His sister, Florene Hodge, told the AP, "I don't think it was suicide, but I am looking for closure." No official manner of death has been made public, and no outcome of the family's own investigation was reported.

The case

Where found
Tree about a half mile from his rented home in Claiborne County
Official finding
No manner of death publicly stated. DOJ said federal prosecutors and the FBI found no evidence to prove a homicide and closed its civil rights investigation May 29, 2015.
Time to finding
About 10 weeks to DOJ closure
Investigation
The FBI and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation briefed the family on the state autopsy on March 24, 2015, but the results were never released publicly. The family then had his body cremated.
Family position
His sister, Florene Hodge, said: "I don't think it was suicide, but I am looking for closure." The family's attorneys, Dennis Sweet III and Dennis Sweet IV, said they would conduct their own investigation; no outcome was reported.
Public evidence
Autopsy results not publicly released.
Federal review
DOJ Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI. Closed May 29, 2015, with no charges.
Last verified
2026-10-18
Verification note: CBS/AP said the DOJ release suggested suicide without saying so. BuzzFeed News reported that CNN and the Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed sources, said officials were leaning toward suicide. Status is open because no official manner of death appears in the sources read.

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
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  3. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Investigation: The FBI and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation briefed the family on the state autopsy on March 24, 2015, but the results were never released publicly. The family then had his body cremated.
    • Family position: His sister, Florene Hodge, said: "I don't think it was suicide, but I am looking for closure." The family's attorneys, Dennis Sweet III and Dennis Sweet IV, said they would conduct their own investigation; no outcome was reported.
  4. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Otis James Byrd
    • Age: 54
    • Date found: 2015-03-19
    • City or county: Port Gibson
    • State: MS
    • Where found: Tree about a half mile from his rented home in Claiborne County
    • Official finding: No manner of death publicly stated. DOJ said federal prosecutors and the FBI found no evidence to prove a homicide and closed its civil rights investigation May 29, 2015.
    • Time to finding: About 10 weeks to DOJ closure
    • Investigation: Last seen March 2, 2015, at a Vicksburg casino; reported missing March 8. FBI and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation briefed family representatives on the state medical examiner's findings, which weren't released publicly. Claiborne County Sheriff said he was satisfied with the FBI's report.
    • Family position: Family said he wouldn't have taken his own life. Their attorneys sought an independent investigation and hired a pathologist (Vicksburg Post). After DOJ closed its review, his sister said she didn't think it was suicide but was looking for closure (CBS/AP).
    • Public evidence: Autopsy results not publicly released.
    • Federal review: DOJ Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and FBI. Closed May 29, 2015, with no charges.
    • Verification note: CBS/AP said the DOJ release suggested suicide without saying so. BuzzFeed News reported that CNN and the Los Angeles Times, citing unnamed sources, said officials were leaning toward suicide. Status is open because no official manner of death appears in the sources read.
    • Sources updated
Otis James Byrd, Port Gibson, MS · Found Hanging: Case Tracker