Authorities have closed the investigation into the death of a man found hanging in a Morris County park.
Investigators say 20-year-old Amani Kildea, who was found hanging in the park in June, brought rope earlier that day after researching suicide online.
Those were among details released by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, which concluded an investigation upholding initial findings that Kildea’s death was suicide, citing no evidence of foul play, reports local outlet Morristown Green.
After news surfaced of Kildea’s death, activists urged the state to take over the investigation, accusing Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp of rushing to judgement when he released the county medical examiner’s conclusion days after Kildea’s body was found in Lewis Morris Park in Morris Township on June 28, 2020.
Activists had questioned why Kildea–who was college bound and had trained to become a military policeman, and dreamed of a law enforcement career–would hang himself.
Kildea was also involved in a vigilante group that hunted pedophiles, raising more concerns about who might have had motives to harm him.
But no indications of a struggle were observed at the scene, nor did the medical examiner find any signs of trauma consistent with a struggle, authorities said.
“The investigation did not reveal any evidence of criminality, nor is there any evidence of a connection between Mr. Kildea’s suicide and any other person or group,” Knapp said in his statement.
The prosecutor described the following scenario:
At 2:47 pm authorities received a 9-1-1 call reporting the body of a young black male hanging from a tree just off a hiking trail.
First responders found Kildea in a “near seated position at the base of a tree, with a rope wrapped around his neck. This rope was connected to the tree approximately six-and-one-half feet from the ground, and Mr. Kildea’s body was partially suspended several inches off the ground.”
Kildea’s laptop and backpack were neatly placed near his body. His wallet and cell phone were in his pocket. His car was in a parking lot in the park.
Earlier that day, acting alone, Kildea had purchased the rope from a home improvement center in Morris County. That same day he also conducted “multiple internet searches related to suicide,” according to Knapp.
Amanual “Amani” Kildea played football and basketball at West Morris Central High School and was planning to attend James Madison University in the Fall. Born in Ethiopia, he was adopted at age 5 by a white pastor and his family. The pastor characterized the death as suicide early on. Knapp said his office shared investigation results with the Kildeas.
“Out of respect and consideration for Mr. Kildea’s family, there will be no further comment on the details of this investigation,” Knapp stated.
Activits have responded to the findings:
“Black community has a traumatic history of public hangings of Black men, women and children, and this summer around the time that Amani Kildea was found, we experienced nationwide news of several deaths by hanging of Black bodies. We needed to understand the circumstances surrounding his death and we demanded transparency,” said T’Anna Kimbrough, founder of Black Lives Matter Morristown.
“We are thankful that the Morris County Prosecutor’s office was finally transparent with the conclusion of the investigation and a thorough investigation was completed,” she said.
