Unidentified man

On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, neighbors found a man dead in a tree outside an industrial business in the 9300 block of D'Arcy Road in Upper Marlboro, WJLA reported. The body was visible from the road, and a photo spread on social media along with claims that he'd been lynched. Prince George's County police opened a death investigation, and County Council member Wala Blegay called for a thorough investigation and transparency.

On Monday, Sept. 21, County Executive Aisha Braveboy announced at a news conference near the site that the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner had ruled the death a suicide. Police sources told WJLA that evidence, including video, showed no one else was involved. Braveboy urged residents not to spread misinformation, and dozens of people walked with officials to the site to pray.

Maj. Paul Gambardella, who leads the county police homicide unit, said the case isn't closed and that detectives would review the man's phone, follow up on camera footage and talk to neighbors who hadn't yet been interviewed. The man's name and age haven't been released, and no statement from his family has been reported.