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Contested death (2000 to present)

Michael George Smith Jr.

Ruled suicideJuly 2016 · Age 22 · Atlanta, GA

What happened

Park security found a man hanging from a tree near the Charles Allen entrance to Atlanta's Piedmont Park just before 5 a.m. on July 7, 2016, according to an Atlanta Police report cited by Rough Draft Atlanta. Police said there were no discernible signs of a struggle or foul play, and a Fulton County Medical Examiner investigator agreed the scene was consistent with suicide. Social media posts claimed he'd been killed by the Ku Klux Klan. Police said no one had reported Klan activity in or near the park that night.

Mayor Kasim Reed said that day he was "deeply saddened by the loss of a young man's life" and that "everything we have seen suggests that there was no foul play involved," but that officials wouldn't prejudge the case. He said he'd referred it to the FBI and asked for regular briefings. NewsOne, citing the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, reported that no autopsy had been performed at that point. At a Black Lives Matter protest the next day, Reed declined to answer questions because the family hadn't yet been notified.

By July 12, the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office had identified him as Michael George Smith Jr., 22, of New Jersey, and ruled his death a suicide. Many people on social media rejected the ruling. No FBI findings or statements from Michael's family have been reported.

The case

Where found
Tree in Piedmont Park
Official finding
Suicide (medical examiner, per NewsOne citing the AJC)
Time to finding
Within days
Investigation
Atlanta Police. Mayor Kasim Reed referred the case to the FBI after public concern and said everything seen so far suggested no foul play.
Family position
No public statement from his family has been reported.
Public evidence
The AJC reported no autopsy had been performed at the time of the ruling.
Federal review
Referred to the FBI by the mayor (July 2016); no outcome reported.
Last verified
2026-11-14

Sources

Record history

  1. Nov 14, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • What happened updated
    • Family position: No public statement from his family has been reported.
  2. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • Name: Michael George Smith Jr.
    • Age: 22
    • Verification note: Blank
  3. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Record updated
    • What happened updated
    • What happened sources updated
  4. Oct 18, 2026 · Reviewed update
    Case added
    • Name: Unidentified man
    • Date found: 2016-07-07
    • Date label if approximate: July 2016
    • City or county: Atlanta
    • State: GA
    • Status: Ruled suicide
    • Where found: Tree in Piedmont Park
    • Official finding: Suicide (medical examiner, per NewsOne citing the AJC)
    • Time to finding: Within days
    • Investigation: Atlanta Police. Mayor Kasim Reed referred the case to the FBI after public concern and said everything seen so far suggested no foul play.
    • Family position: Not publicly stated. Name not released in sources reviewed.
    • Public evidence: The AJC reported no autopsy had been performed at the time of the ruling.
    • Federal review: Referred to the FBI by the mayor (July 2016); no outcome reported.
    • Verification note: Source says he was found on a Thursday shortly before a July 8, 2016 article; the date of July 7 is inferred.
    • Sources updated