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CNN Live At Daybreak
Was it Suicide or Homicide?
Aired July 29, 2003 - 05:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Belle Glade County, Florida, officials want to know was it suicide or homicide? A judge is conducting an inquest into the death of an African-American found hanging from a tree. Police say the man killed himself, but there are rampant rumors he was lynched.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti tells us about the disturbing story that has divided a rural community.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On May 28th, did Ray Golden hang himself from an umbrella tree or did someone kill him? At a rate inquest, the first in Palm Beach County in 18 years, Golden's mother listened in court as investigators played a 911 call from his stepfather. It appeared to indicate suicide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seemed like somebody hung hisself from a tree.
CANDIOTTI: But soon after, all kinds of rumors started to fly, that Golden was tied, beaten, lynched. His mother insists he would not have killed himself.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know my baby. I know he didn't do it.
CANDIOTTI: Police insist the evidence points to suicide. A police camera recorded officers arriving at the scene and discovering Golden's body hanging from a tree. CNN is not airing the video, which shows Golden's arms hanging loose at his sides. Autopsy photos show no injuries other than abrasions around the neck.
The medical examiner testified Golden had a high level of alcohol, more than twice the legal driving limit, and a trace of cocaine.
DR. CHRISTOPHER WILSON, ASSOCIATE MEDICAL EXAMINER: The manner of death in Mr. Golden's case was that of a suicide.
CANDIOTTI: The family is no longer talking with police, but police say the family initially told them Golden mentioned suicide.
DETECTIVE STEVEN SAWYER, BELLE GLADE POLICE: He made a statement to the effect of nobody loved him and he was going to kill himself.
CANDIOTTI: Yet some family members remain unconvinced.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He didn't do that to hisself. He wouldn't do that to my grandmother. He wouldn't do that to his kids.
CANDIOTTI: In other dramatic testimony, after police displayed the green sheet found tied around his neck, a relative who lives with Golden said she recognized it as hers. Golden's stepfather...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that means he got it out of his room and used it.
CANDIOTTI: The NAACP is raising questions about the way police conducted its investigation.
LINDA JOHNSON, BELLE GLADE NAACP: The proceeding focused on proving that Golden committed suicide, not discovering the truth.
CANDIOTTI: In fact, the judge himself raised questions about why police did not follow up on a rumor that Golden may have been in trouble for allegedly dating a white daughter of a police officer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you explain why?
SAWYER: Because the way it was placed to me, it was a rumor, and to my knowledge it had no validity.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): After hearing another day of testimony, the judge expects to issue a ruling -- suicide or something else.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Belle Glade, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 29, 2003 - 05:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: In Belle Glade County, Florida, officials want to know was it suicide or homicide? A judge is conducting an inquest into the death of an African-American found hanging from a tree. Police say the man killed himself, but there are rampant rumors he was lynched.
CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti tells us about the disturbing story that has divided a rural community.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On May 28th, did Ray Golden hang himself from an umbrella tree or did someone kill him? At a rate inquest, the first in Palm Beach County in 18 years, Golden's mother listened in court as investigators played a 911 call from his stepfather. It appeared to indicate suicide.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It seemed like somebody hung hisself from a tree.
CANDIOTTI: But soon after, all kinds of rumors started to fly, that Golden was tied, beaten, lynched. His mother insists he would not have killed himself.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know my baby. I know he didn't do it.
CANDIOTTI: Police insist the evidence points to suicide. A police camera recorded officers arriving at the scene and discovering Golden's body hanging from a tree. CNN is not airing the video, which shows Golden's arms hanging loose at his sides. Autopsy photos show no injuries other than abrasions around the neck.
The medical examiner testified Golden had a high level of alcohol, more than twice the legal driving limit, and a trace of cocaine.
DR. CHRISTOPHER WILSON, ASSOCIATE MEDICAL EXAMINER: The manner of death in Mr. Golden's case was that of a suicide.
CANDIOTTI: The family is no longer talking with police, but police say the family initially told them Golden mentioned suicide.
DETECTIVE STEVEN SAWYER, BELLE GLADE POLICE: He made a statement to the effect of nobody loved him and he was going to kill himself.
CANDIOTTI: Yet some family members remain unconvinced.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He didn't do that to hisself. He wouldn't do that to my grandmother. He wouldn't do that to his kids.
CANDIOTTI: In other dramatic testimony, after police displayed the green sheet found tied around his neck, a relative who lives with Golden said she recognized it as hers. Golden's stepfather...
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, that means he got it out of his room and used it.
CANDIOTTI: The NAACP is raising questions about the way police conducted its investigation.
LINDA JOHNSON, BELLE GLADE NAACP: The proceeding focused on proving that Golden committed suicide, not discovering the truth.
CANDIOTTI: In fact, the judge himself raised questions about why police did not follow up on a rumor that Golden may have been in trouble for allegedly dating a white daughter of a police officer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you explain why?
SAWYER: Because the way it was placed to me, it was a rumor, and to my knowledge it had no validity.
CANDIOTTI (on camera): After hearing another day of testimony, the judge expects to issue a ruling -- suicide or something else.
Susan Candiotti, CNN, Belle Glade, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
