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GoVia Highlight a Hero aims to modernize police-community interactions by leveraging crowdsharing and crowdsourcing technologies. The project facilitates real-time communication between police, citizens, attorneys, and mental health professionals, ensuring accountability and support during encounters. By integrating these resources, GoVia seeks to create a safer and more transparent environment, improving trust and outcomes for both law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Federal and local authorities have investigated multiple high-profile hanging deaths of Black individuals in Mississippi over the past decade. [1, 2, 3]
Because of Mississippi’s history of racial violence, these cases often draw calls for federal oversight and direct involvement from the FBI. [1, 2]
Notable Mississippi Hanging Cases Involving Federal Scrutiny
- Otis Byrd (2015): The 54-year-old Black man was found hanging from a tree in Claiborne County. The FBI, the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office launched a joint federal investigation to determine if it was a hate crime. [1, 2]
- Willie Andrew Jones Jr. (2018): The 21-year-old was found hanging near Forest, Mississippi. The FBI and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation joined the probe after family members questioned local sheriff findings that pointed toward suicide. [1]
- Demartravion “Trey” Reed (2025): The 21-year-old Delta State University student was found hanging on campus in Cleveland, Mississippi. Lawmakers like Congressman Bennie G. Thompson requested federal help, and the FBI remained in regular contact with local police departments during their inquiries. [1, 2, 3]
- Tasia Fortune (2026): The 29-year-old mother was found hanging from a tree in Jackson, Mississippi. The Jackson Police Department opened an active death investigation, urging public tips as autopsies and local inquiries continue. [1, 2]
