Prince George’s County police said they found no indication of foul play but are continuing their investigation into the man’s death.
UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled that a man found hanging from a tree in the Upper Marlboro area died by suicide, Prince George’s County officials said Monday, a day after the discovery prompted concern and questions from residents.
The man was found shortly before 8 a.m. Sunday in the 9300 block of D’Arcy Road in an unincorporated part of Upper Marlboro. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Prince George’s County police opened a death investigation, interviewed witnesses and examined evidence before the medical examiner completed its review. Officials said the examination found no other signs of trauma to the man’s body.
Police said investigators have found no evidence of foul play. Even with the medical examiner’s ruling, the department said the case remains open while detectives continue examining evidence and speaking with people who knew the man. Officials said the continuing work is intended to provide a fuller account of the circumstances surrounding his death.
The man’s name has not been made public. Police Chief George Nader said the man’s family asked authorities not to release his identity and that the attention surrounding the death had added to the family’s grief. Officials have described the man as Black but have released few other personal details.
The discovery drew immediate attention because the man was visible from a busy roadway and because images and reports of the scene spread quickly online. County Executive Aisha Braveboy and police officials spoke with residents Sunday and held a public briefing Monday as questions circulated about whether someone else could have been responsible for the death.
Officials said homicide investigators were among those who responded as authorities worked to determine what had happened. Investigators interviewed witnesses, reviewed information about the man and examined evidence from the scene. Police later said the evidence did not indicate that another person caused his death.
Authorities also addressed questions about how long the man remained at the scene. Officials said police had to preserve the area until personnel from the medical examiner’s office completed the necessary work. Police and fire crews also attempted to shield the scene from passing traffic before the body was removed later Sunday morning.
Braveboy said county leaders recognized that the sight of a Black man hanging from a tree was deeply disturbing to residents. She urged the public to rely on evidence gathered by investigators rather than unverified claims circulating online. Police officials likewise said their conclusions were based on witness interviews, physical evidence and the independent medical examiner’s findings.
The police department said detectives will continue gathering information despite the suicide ruling. Authorities have said there is no indication of foul play and have not announced evidence suggesting a threat to the surrounding community. The family’s request for privacy remains in place.
Author note: Last updated September 22, 2026.