Strange fruit?: Maryland police investigate Black woman hanging from a tree

A group of students discovered the body of a 72-year-old Black woman hanging from a tree in an Annapolis, MD neighborhood. This occured at 7:30 a.m. on November 3 and only a handful of outlets have reported on it, which is perhaps because the police do not suspect criminal intent. The details are scarce, but in the eyes of an alarmed community it appears police have minimized this significance of the event.

“While walking to the bus stop this morning, some students may have witnessed a tragic scene involving the death of an adult individual,” Richard Rogers and Casey Hunt, principals of Mills-Parole Elementary and Annapolis Middle School, wrote in a letter to parents of students at the two learning institutions.

According to various reports, police ruled the finding as an “unattended death” which implies it was a suicide and opened an investigation. A police statement reads: “On 11/3/2021 at approximately 7:30 a.m., officers from the Annapolis Police Department responded to the 600 block of Belle Drive for the report of an unattended death. When officers arrived, they located a 72-year-old female victim. Preliminary investigation reveals the incident does not appear to be criminal in nature. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending confirmation that the extended family has been notified.”

Apparently, the police did not suspect foul play, but the incident is bizarre and has raised skepticism among community activits. What occured that landed an elderly woman in a tree that would then lead to her perishing? It is not our place or practice to speculate but there are a number of concerns when the report lacks details but states that it looks like the victim's death was "unattended." What clues were left that led authorities to this immediate conclusion?

The race of the deceased was revealed in a Facebook post. Wrote Carl Snowden, “Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. On the scene of a breaking story regarding the death of an African American woman. The location is Belle Drive in Annapolis. AlderwomanSheila M. Finlayson is on the scene. More information will be forthcoming.”

The investigation is on-going. Anyone with pertinent information about the case should contact authorities at 410-260-3439.