The family of a 27-year-old Michigan woman found dead near a Miami park says they now believe she died by suicide, after the case drew wider concern on social media.
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To’Nea Nicole Miller, of Flint, Michigan, was found dead near Gwen Cherry Park on June 18. Her family told NBC6 she had traveled to Miami to celebrate Juneteenth.
The Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office said the death is being investigated as an apparent suicide and that, at this time, there is no evidence of foul play.
Miller’s aunt, Michele Howell, traveled to Miami to identify her niece’s body. She said that after speaking with the investigator assigned to the case and with the medical examiner, the family also believes Miller took her own life.
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“After talking with the investigator on the case and speaking with the medical examiner … it was suicide,” Howell said.
She went on to say: “After gathering information and investigating, it was not homicide.”
Still, the case drew scrutiny and suspicious across the community. At 3 p.m., the Miami-Dade Branch of the NAACP is hosting a public briefing in response to Miller’s death.
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Additional members of Miller’s family are expected to attend.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.