Malcolm Harsch: Family of black man found hanging from tree says he killed himself after seeing video footage
The family of a black man who was found hanging from a tree late last month has conceded that he died of a suicide, and not from a lynching, after the emergence of new video evidence. MEA WorldWide previously reported that the family of Malcolm Harsch, 38, had raised questions about his death after he was discovered hanging near 7th Street and Zenda Street in Victorville shortly after 7 am on May 31. While officials did not rule it a suicide, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said, "there are no indications at the scene that suggested foul play."
His family had previously protested the ruling but have now come out to say they believe he took his own life. The Associated Press reported that the admission came after they saw surveillance footage from a vacant building near where his body was discovered which appeared to have ruled out foul play. The video is said to have shown the 38-year-old wrapping a blue electronics cable around his neck, typing the ends to a tree limb, and then letting himself fall. San Bernardino County sheriff's Sgt Steve Allen also revealed Harsch had been recently put on suicide watch after he was arrested on suspicion of minor crimes.
"It is with a heavy heart that we now know the cause and manner of death," the family said in a statement. "We urge you all to continue your efforts concerning the hanging deaths of African Americans. If you or someone you know may be suicidal please seek help." "On behalf of the family of Malcolm Harsch, unfortunately, it seems he did take his own life," Najee Ali, a community activist and spokesman for Harsch's family similarly added to the Daily Mail. "The Victorville Police Department officials released new video evidence to family members."
The San Bernardino Sheriff's Department said that while there remains no sign of foul play, the forensic pathologist would wait for the toxicology results before assigning the cause and manner of death. Harsch, who was homeless, was found dead after emergency responders in Victorville were called out to a homeless encampment in the city by the 38-year-old's girlfriend. She said she had been with him earlier that morning but that they had broken up over mutual accusations of infidelity. He reportedly hung himself a few minutes after the break-up. Other people in the encampment cut him down and tried to revive him, but failed. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His family had previously brushed away suggestions that he had killed himself and said they had been informed of several inconsistencies that could indicate there was more to his death. "We were told that his 6 foot 3 inches long body wasn’t even dangling from the tree," they told Victor Valley News in a statement. "There was blood on his shirt but there didn’t appear to be any physical implications at the scene to suggest that there was a struggle or any visible open wounds at that time. His body sat at the San Bernardino County Coroner's office for 12 days before an autopsy was performed."
"Malcolm had very recent conversations with his children about seeing them soon," they continued. "He didn’t seem to be depressed to anyone who truly knew him. EVERYONE who knew our brother was shocked to hear that he allegedly hung himself and don’t believe it to be true as well as the people who were there when his body was discovered. The explanation of suicide does not seem plausible." Harsch's death had raised suspicion after the body of another black man, 24-year-old Robert Fuller, was found in suspiciously similar circumstances just 45 miles away from where the 38-year-old had hung himself. Police are still investigating the latter's death.