MEMPHIS, TN – Memphis police are investigating the death of a man who was found hanging from a tree in his backyard.
The neighbor of 40-year-old Rodney Thompson tells myEyewitnessNews.com that he found Thompson, dead, hanging from a tree at a home in the 4100 block of Cohassett on Wednesday, November 18, 2009. The man says he called police and cut Thompson down from the tree.
According to Thompson’s sister Sharon Johnson, police initially said the death was a suicide. But, Johnson says she didn’t believe it. Johnson told myEyewitnessNews.com Investigators returned to the house on Thursday morning and she was told that the Medical Examiner said her brother had been shot.
“I begged them and I pleaded for them to investigate my brother’s death, because I knew he wouldn’t commit suicide. And they did (investigate),” Johnson said. Neighbors like Sally Morgan also suspect foul play. "When they said Rodney hung himself, I couldn't believe he would do such a thing."
Memphis police have confirmed that they are investigating the death of Rodney Thompson, but say they have not ruled out suicide or homicide. They also will not confirm whether Johnson had been shot.
Johnson believes someone had her brother killed. “We seen the blood in the house and we knew. (It) looked like it was cleaned up. There were spots everywhere and we seen the bloody pistol. There was blood on the pistol under the mattress.”
Memphis Homicide Detectives have taken several items from inside and outside the home to be processed. The investigation into Rodney Thompson's death is ongoing.
