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Contested death (2000 to present)

Phillip Carroll

Ruled suicideMay 29, 2017 · Age 22 · Jackson, MS

What happened

Early on the morning of Monday, May 29, 2017, Jackson Police officers went to a home on Topp Avenue for a welfare check and found a 22-year-old man dead in the backyard. WJTV reported that officials did not suspect foul play and did not release his name that day.

In August 2021 the Washington Post identified him as Phillip Carroll, 22, in a list of Black men found hanging in Mississippi, giving the date as May 28. Jackson Police Commander Tyree Jones told the Post that police had nothing other than the fact that Phillip's death had been ruled a suicide, and police denied early claims about the scene. No family statement or federal review has been reported.

The case

Where found
Tree in the backyard of a home on Topp Avenue
Official finding
Suicide (reported by Jackson Police; ruling authority not named in sources)
Time to finding
Same day
Investigation
Jackson Police found him during a welfare check at a home on Topp Avenue. Officials told WJTV they did not suspect foul play. Jackson Police Commander Tyree Jones later told the Washington Post that the death had been ruled a suicide. Police denied early claims about the scene that circulated at the time.
Family position
Not publicly stated.
Public evidence
None released.
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-11-14
Verification note: WJTV reported the death on May 29, 2017 (found 'early Monday morning') but did not name him. The Washington Post names Phillip Carroll, 22, and gives May 28, 2017. The match rests on age, city and timing. Neither source says which office made the suicide ruling. Black America Web and NewsOne (Aug 2021), quoting a list published by The Root, give the date as May 28, 2018. May 29, 2017 was a Monday, which fits WJTV's report, so the 2018 year looks like an error in The Root's list; the record keeps 2017.

Sources

Record history

  1. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Verification note: WJTV reported the death on May 29, 2017 (found 'early Monday morning') but did not name him. The Washington Post names Phillip Carroll, 22, and gives May 28, 2017. The match rests on age, city and timing. Neither source says which office made the suicide ruling. Black America Web and NewsOne (Aug 2021), quoting a list published by The Root, give the date as May 28, 2018. May 29, 2017 was a Monday, which fits WJTV's report, so the 2018 year looks like an error in The Root's list; the record keeps 2017.
  2. Oct 21, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Phillip Carroll
    • Age: 22
    • Date found: 2017-05-29
    • City or county: Jackson
    • State: MS
    • Status: Ruled suicide
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: Tree in the backyard of a home on Topp Avenue
    • Official finding: Suicide (reported by Jackson Police; ruling authority not named in sources)
    • Time to finding: Same day
    • Investigation: Jackson Police found him during a welfare check at a home on Topp Avenue. Officials told WJTV they did not suspect foul play. Jackson Police Commander Tyree Jones later told the Washington Post that the death had been ruled a suicide. Police denied early claims about the scene that circulated at the time.
    • Family position: Not publicly stated.
    • Public evidence: None released.
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: WJTV reported the death on May 29, 2017 (found 'early Monday morning') but did not name him. The Washington Post names Phillip Carroll, 22, and gives May 28, 2017. The match rests on age, city and timing. Neither source says which office made the suicide ruling.
    • Sources updated