JACKSON, Miss. — The body of a slain, openly gay Mississippi mayoral candidate was beaten and burned, a family member said Monday.
Marco McMillian’s godfather, Carter Womack, said McMillian’s family received the information from the Coahoma County coroner. Coroner Scotty Meredith declined to comment Monday, and a spokesman for the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department had no immediate comment.
Marco McMillian (left) and Lawrence Reed.
But a person with direct knowledge of the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that McMillian had some bruises and there were burns on at least one area of his body. The person wasn’t authorized to publicly comment and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The cause of death has not been released. An autopsy was performed, but toxicology tests are pending, and authorities say it could take two weeks to get those results.
Womack said the coroner told family members that someone dragged McMillian’s body under a fence and left it near a Mississippi River levee last week.
McMillian, 34, was a candidate for mayor of Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta.
“We feel that this was not a random act of violence based on the condition of the body when it was found,” said a statement released by his campaign.
The slaying received significant attention, in part, because McMillian’s campaign said he was the first openly gay, viable candidate for public office in Mississippi.Sheriff’s deputies last week charged 22-year-old Lawrence Reed with murder in the case.
An investigation began Feb. 26 after McMillian’s SUV slammed head-on into another vehicle on U.S. Highway 49 near the Coahoma and Tallahatchie county lines.
Reed was driving the car, but McMillian was not in it, authorities say. McMillian’s body was found the next day.
Reed was treated for injuries at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis. The hospital said he was released Saturday. The Shelby County, Tenn., Sherriff’s Office website showed Reed in custody Monday.
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WTF
the facts of how he met his killer are still not known but we as gay men need to live with a great deal of caution because there are predators that hate and hunt us and we must protect ourselves from them
Oh, they get one of us a day at least.
Prayers for his family and the whole gay community . That is so sad .May he R.I.P.
Sad and awful!
this is so sad. I am sorry to hear this report. It is sure crazy how people can be so cruel!
Reed said that a pass was made at him. So he killed him. Tried to burn the body. Couldn’t get it to light. My info could be wrong though. Hate is everywhere and mis-understandings are common place. Be careful out there.
:(
:(((
Hate is rampant to the LGBTPQ community. Please be careful! Makes me want to vomit. My condolences to his family. 22 years old so full of hate and now hopefully life in prison without parole!
Heartbreaking :’(
Damn…so far to go.
Thts sad
So sad … This screams HATE CRIME … I hope the punish this low life to the fullest …
Hate crime from hell
It’s in the eyes. I look at this pic and see kindness vs. hate. Terrible crime.
… And what century do we live in again?!
Down here in The South it is still 1800 I think.
Yes Ladora…you can see the difference in the eyes…the killer deserves NO justice. SO SAD.
Very Sad !
Had he made it through the elections and been voted for, I think it still would have happened. :( Where we live does NOT accept who we are as human beings. They only see race and sexual preference and feel nothing but hatred. Mississippi is still in the 1800′s, Barbara. That’s for sure. :/ I love where I’m from, but I hate it at the same time.
Disgusting… I hope justice is served for this monster.
Heartbreaking. RIP.