Contested death (2000 to present)

Robert Fuller

Ruled suicide, disputedJun 10, 2020 · Age 24 · Palmdale, CA

Who Robert was

Robert Laroy Fuller Jr. was born on January 26, 1996, and grew up in the Antelope Valley of California. His sister, Diamond Alexander, says the family had many friends there who loved him.

Family and friends describe Robert as a peacemaker who loved music and video games and mostly kept to himself. Days before he died, he went to a Black Lives Matter protest.

He was 24. His sister started a fundraiser in his memory, and people across the country gave to it. His funeral was held in Palmdale on June 30, 2020.

Portrait of Robert Fuller — Courtesy of the Fuller family (GoFundMe) · where it was shared

In the words of those who knew them

“Robert was a good little brother to us.”Diamond Alexander, his sister · source
“We grew up there in the Antelope Valley, we have so many friends, families that loved Robert.”Diamond Alexander, his sister · source
“They want answers. They want full disclosure. Most of all, they want to know that Mr. Fuller's life mattered.”Jamon Hicks, family attorney · source

What happened

Robert Fuller, 24, was found by a passerby around 3:30 a.m. on June 10, 2020, in a tree in Poncitlan Square, a park near Palmdale City Hall. Two days later, sheriff's Lt. Brandon Dean said "all signs right now lead us to believe this was a suicide," and city officials repeated the coroner's early finding, drawing anger at a news conference. His sister, Diamond Alexander, told a rally of more than 1,000 people on June 13, "My brother was not suicidal," and the family sought an independent autopsy.

On June 15, Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner Dr. Jonathan Lucas said his office would "roll that back" and keep investigating. The FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office and the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said they'd monitor the sheriff's investigation, and Attorney General Xavier Becerra's office pledged support. The city of Palmdale backed an independent inquiry.

On July 9, the sheriff's department announced the death had been ruled a suicide. Cmdr. Chris Marks cited a May 14 rope purchase made with Fuller's card and said investigators found no signs of a struggle. The next day, family attorney Jamon Hicks said, "I have no information to suggest foul play. I have no information to suggest that anything was racially motivated." No results of the family's independent autopsy have been published, no federal findings have been reported, and the suicide ruling stands.

The case

Where found: Tree in Poncitlan Square, a park near City Hall
Official finding: Suicide (Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, announced July 9, 2020, after first deferring the cause and manner)
Time to finding: 29 days from discovery to the final ruling
Investigation: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The California Attorney General's office pledged to monitor the case, and the City of Palmdale backed calls for an independent investigation.
Family position: The family commissioned an independent autopsy; results were never made public. In July 2020 the family's attorney said he had found no evidence contradicting the ruling but would keep gathering evidence.
Public evidence: Sheriff's Department presentation of purchase records and scene findings at the July 9, 2020 news conference.
Federal review: The FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles and the DOJ Civil Rights Division said they would review the investigation. No federal findings reported.
Last verified: 2026-10-18

Sources

Record history

Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
Portrait added (Courtesy of the Fuller family (GoFundMe))
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- What happened updated
- What happened sources updated
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Official finding: Suicide (Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner, announced July 9, 2020, after first deferring the cause and manner)
- Time to finding: 29 days from discovery to the final ruling
- Investigation: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The California Attorney General's office pledged to monitor the case, and the City of Palmdale backed calls for an independent investigation.
- Family position: The family commissioned an independent autopsy; results were never made public. In July 2020 the family's attorney said he had found no evidence contradicting the ruling but would keep gathering evidence.
- Federal review: The FBI, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles and the DOJ Civil Rights Division said they would review the investigation. No federal findings reported.
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Record updated
- Life updated
- Remembered updated
- Life sources updated
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Portrait added (Robert Fuller family, via AP)
Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
Case added
- Name: Robert Fuller
- Age: 24
- Date found: 2020-06-10
- City or county: Palmdale
- State: CA
- Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
- Where found: Tree in Poncitlan Square, a park near City Hall
- Official finding: Suicide (Los Angeles County authorities; confirmed at a Sheriff's Department news conference July 9, 2020)
- Time to finding: About one month to the confirmed finding
- Investigation: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Investigators cited a prior mental health history, a purchase traced to his card in May 2020 and no signs of a struggle or defensive wounds. The sheriff acknowledged the unusual circumstances of the death.
- Family position: Family rejected the suicide ruling, per NPR.
- Public evidence: Sheriff's Department presentation of purchase records and scene findings at the July 9, 2020 news conference.
- Federal review: None reported in source read. Protesters called for an independent investigation by the California Attorney General.
- Sources updated