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Contested death (2000 to present)

Raynard Johnson

Ruled suicide, disputedJun 16, 2000 · Age 17 · Kokomo, MS

Who Raynard was

Raynard Johnson was 17 and lived with his family in Kokomo, a rural community in Marion County, Mississippi. He was the youngest son of Jerry and Maria Johnson, and he played football at West Marion High School.

People who knew him describe a carefree, hopeful young man who did well in school and made friends easily. He had recently bought a computer and planned to go to college.

His family never accepted the official account of his death. Hundreds of people marched through Kokomo in his name in July 2000, and his mother and his brother Roger went to Washington to press for a federal investigation. Two decades later his mother said she has never given up.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “I've never given up hope. And that's the thing that should scare them, because I never will.”Maria Johnson, his mother, to the Washington Post (2021) · source
  • “There's no doubt in my mind what happened.”Jerry Johnson, his father · source

What happened

Raynard Johnson, 17, a high school junior, was found hanging from a pecan tree in his family's front yard in Kokomo, in Marion County, in mid-June 2000. The Justice Department later gave the date as June 16; the Associated Press reported his father found him. The Christian Science Monitor reported he'd been looking after a cousin that night. Marion County Coroner Norma Williamson ruled the death a suicide, saying there were no signs of a beating.

The family said there was foul play. Relatives told the AP he'd been harassed over dating white girls, and his mother, Maria Johnson, said she contacted the Rev. Jesse Jackson because the local investigation was "getting nowhere." Jackson spoke at the funeral and led a march to the pecan tree, telling demonstrators, "We reject the suicide theory." A second autopsy commissioned by the family also found no evidence of a struggle, CBS News reported. On July 12, 2000, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder met with the family in Washington, with Attorney General Janet Reno present for part of the meeting, and said the FBI and Civil Rights Division were actively investigating.

On Feb. 1, 2001, the Justice Department said the evidence "does not support a federal criminal civil rights prosecution." The state attorney general, the Highway Patrol, the district attorney and the sheriff reached the same conclusion. His mother said she wouldn't stop fighting, and in 2021 she told the Washington Post she has "never given up hope." No charges have been filed.

The case

Where found
Pecan tree in the family's front yard
Official finding
Suicide (state medical examiner). A second autopsy requested by the family reached the same conclusion.
Time to finding
Not established
Investigation
Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder met with the family on July 12, 2000, with Attorney General Janet Reno joining for part of the meeting. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney interviewed numerous witnesses, according to the Justice Department.
Family position
The family rejects the suicide ruling and believes he was killed.
Public evidence
Listed in JULIAN's 2026 Crimson Record, which says witnesses and recorded statements exist; those claims haven't been independently verified.
Federal review
The Justice Department closed its inquiry in February 2001, saying the evidence did not support a federal criminal civil rights prosecution.
Last verified
2026-10-18
Verification note: One AP report gave June 15, 2000. The Justice Department and the Washington Post say June 16.

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: 2000-06-16
    • Date label if approximate: Blank
    • Investigation: Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder met with the family on July 12, 2000, with Attorney General Janet Reno joining for part of the meeting. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney interviewed numerous witnesses, according to the Justice Department.
    • Verification note: One AP report gave June 15, 2000. The Justice Department and the Washington Post say June 16.
  3. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Official finding: Suicide (state medical examiner). A second autopsy requested by the family reached the same conclusion.
    • Investigation: Attorney General Janet Reno met with the family on July 12, 2000. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney interviewed more than 40 people.
    • Family position: The family rejects the suicide ruling and believes he was killed.
    • Public evidence: Listed in JULIAN's 2026 Crimson Record, which says witnesses and recorded statements exist; those claims haven't been independently verified.
    • Federal review: The Justice Department closed its inquiry in February 2001, saying the evidence did not support a federal criminal civil rights prosecution.
  4. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  5. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Raynard Johnson
    • Age: 17
    • Date found: 2000-06-01
    • Date label if approximate: June 2000
    • City or county: Kokomo
    • State: MS
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • Where found: Pecan tree in the family's front yard
    • Official finding: Suicide (coroner)
    • Time to finding: Not established
    • Investigation: Local authorities and the FBI investigated. Two autopsies found no signs of a struggle.
    • Family position: Family doubted the official finding, commissioned a second autopsy and hired a lawyer and a private investigator. A cousin told the Christian Science Monitor: "He wouldn't hang himself, in my opinion."
    • Public evidence: Coroner's report and two autopsies. The NAACP funded a private investigator.
    • Federal review: FBI investigators interviewed residents (2000).
    • Verification note: Exact discovery date not stated in sources opened; NPR on July 9, 2000 said 'last month'.
    • Sources updated