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Contested death (2000 to present)

Stephen Styles

Ruled suicide, disputedFeb 21, 2021 · Age 43 · Winston (Douglas County), GA

Who Stephen was

Stephen Styles was 43 and the older brother of Keaton Styles. With both of their parents gone, the brothers were close, and Keaton said he talked to Stephen as often as he could.

Keaton remembered him as a good, caring and funny person.

In the words of those who knew them

  • “He was a good person. A caring person, he was funny,”His brother, Keaton Styles · source
  • “We used to tell each other we're all we got,”His brother, Keaton Styles · source

What happened

Stephen Styles, 43, left his home in Douglas County, Georgia, on February 12, 2021, after a disagreement with his grandmother, according to the sheriff's office, which said he was never reported missing. On February 21, deputies responding to an abandoned car off Mason Creek Road in Winston found his body in a tree in the woods nearby, not far from his grandparents' home. FOX 5 Atlanta's earlier report gave February 20.

By early March the Douglas County Sheriff's Office had called the death a suicide. Stephen's family said the car's windows were broken, the interior was muddy, and his wallet and ID were gone. His brother Keaton told FOX 5 Atlanta the ruling came too quickly and said it seemed like racial activity. A petition calling for justice gathered more than 1,500 signatures.

On March 19, about two dozen members of an armed Black militia group marched to the sheriff's office in Douglasville to challenge the ruling, and Keaton met with the sheriff and the police chief. Officials said location data showed Stephen drove directly to the area, that his car was vandalized after he left it, and that a GBI autopsy ruled the death a suicide. The district attorney reviewed the case and said she was comfortable it was thorough. The ruling stands, and his family has not publicly accepted it.

The case

Where found
Tree in a wooded area off Mason Creek Road, near his abandoned car and not far from his grandparents' home
Official finding
Suicide (GBI autopsy, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, March 20, 2021; Douglas County Sheriff's Office called it a suicide by early March 2021)
Time to finding
Under about 16 days (sheriff's office was calling it a suicide by March 8, 2021; exact ruling date not reported)
Investigation
Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff said he left home Feb. 12 after a disagreement with his grandmother and was never reported missing, that location data showed he drove directly to the area where he was found, and that his car was vandalized after he left it. The Douglas County District Attorney reviewed the file and said she was comfortable the investigation was thorough.
Family position
Rejects the ruling. His brother, Keaton Styles, told FOX 5 Atlanta: "I just don't know how they could be so quick as to call this a suicide," and said "It seems like racial activity." He met with the sheriff and police chief on March 19, 2021.
Public evidence
Family said the car's windows were broken out, the interior was muddy, and his wallet and ID were missing. Sheriff's office said location data placed him driving directly to the area and that the vehicle damage happened after he left it. A Change.org petition drew more than 1,500 signatures. On March 19, 2021, about two dozen members of an armed Black militia group marched to the sheriff's office in Douglasville to challenge the ruling.
Federal review
None reported
Last verified
2026-11-14
Verification note: Date found: FOX 5 Atlanta's March 8 photo caption says Feb. 20, 2021; its March 20 report says deputies found him Feb. 21. Distance from the car: Patch says about 250 yards, FOX 5 says about 150 yards. The petition says he went missing Feb. 20; the sheriff (via FOX 5) says he left home Feb. 12 and was never reported missing. Race: FOX 5 doesn't state it; TheGrio reported his death among several hangings of Black men.

Sources

Record history

  1. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Life updated
    • Remembered updated
    • Life sources updated
  2. Oct 28, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Remembered updated
  3. Oct 27, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Stephen Styles
    • Age: 43
    • Date found: 2021-02-21
    • City or county: Winston (Douglas County)
    • State: GA
    • Status: Ruled suicide, disputed
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
    • Where found: Tree in a wooded area off Mason Creek Road, near his abandoned car and not far from his grandparents' home
    • Official finding: Suicide (GBI autopsy, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta, March 20, 2021; Douglas County Sheriff's Office called it a suicide by early March 2021)
    • Time to finding: Under about 16 days (sheriff's office was calling it a suicide by March 8, 2021; exact ruling date not reported)
    • Investigation: Douglas County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff said he left home Feb. 12 after a disagreement with his grandmother and was never reported missing, that location data showed he drove directly to the area where he was found, and that his car was vandalized after he left it. The Douglas County District Attorney reviewed the file and said she was comfortable the investigation was thorough.
    • Family position: Rejects the ruling. His brother, Keaton Styles, told FOX 5 Atlanta: "I just don't know how they could be so quick as to call this a suicide," and said "It seems like racial activity." He met with the sheriff and police chief on March 19, 2021.
    • Public evidence: Family said the car's windows were broken out, the interior was muddy, and his wallet and ID were missing. Sheriff's office said location data placed him driving directly to the area and that the vehicle damage happened after he left it. A Change.org petition drew more than 1,500 signatures. On March 19, 2021, about two dozen members of an armed Black militia group marched to the sheriff's office in Douglasville to challenge the ruling.
    • Federal review: None reported
    • Verification note: Date found: FOX 5 Atlanta's March 8 photo caption says Feb. 20, 2021; its March 20 report says deputies found him Feb. 21. Distance from the car: Patch says about 250 yards, FOX 5 says about 150 yards. The petition says he went missing Feb. 20; the sheriff (via FOX 5) says he left home Feb. 12 and was never reported missing. Race: FOX 5 doesn't state it; TheGrio reported his death among several hangings of Black men.
    • Sources updated