Marco McMillian

Marco McMillian
Born April 23, 1979
Died February 26, 2013 (2013-02-27) (aged 33)
Near Clarksdale, Mississippi
Cause of death Murder
Body discovered near the levee between Sherard and Rena Lara
Resting place Heavenly Rest Cemetery, Lyon, Mississippi
Nationality American
Ethnicity Black[1]
Education Clarksdale High School (1997)
Alma mater Jackson State University (magna cum laude)
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota ( master’s degree, philanthropy and development)
Occupation CEO of MWM & Associates
Home town Clarksdale, Mississippi
Political party Democrat

Marco McMillian (April 23, 1979 – February 26, 2013) was a businessman and candidate for mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi in 2013. He was "the first openly gay man to be a viable candidate for public office in Mississippi".[2] McMillian was CEO of MWM & Associates,[1] a firm that provided consulting to non-profit organizations.[2]

Background

Marco McMillian was born in 1979 in Mississippi. After attending local schools, he attended Jackson State University, studying business.

He developed his own business, eventually becoming CEO of MWM & Associates, which provided consulting to non-profit organizations. He became active in the Democratic Party and in 2013 he ran for mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi.

On March 4, 2013, McMillian was found dead at age 34 in a near town, having been beaten and burned.[3] The FBI released a statement saying that it is "aware of the case, has been monitoring the state investigation, and will assess evidence to determine whether federal prosecution is appropriate".[4] Lawrence Reed, age 22, was arrested in connection with the case after he was "allegedly driving McMillian's SUV when it was involved in a head-on crash"[3][5][6]

McMillian's funeral was held on March 9, 2013.[7][8]

On May 1, 2013, an autopsy report says blunt force trauma most likely contributed to McMillian's death, but the cause of death is listed as "asphyxia by undetermined etiology." It did not give an exact reason for the death beyond calling it a homicide.[9]

Reed was held in custody without bond after his arrest. In August 2013, a judge in Coahoma County ordered the case against Reed moved to Quitman County, where it is alleged the murder took place. Reed was indicted by a grand jury in Quitman County in February 2014.[10]

On April 2, 2015, Reed was found guilty of the murder following a jury trial, and sentenced to life in prison. Reed claimed he acted in self-defense after McMillian drove him to a dark and deserted road and made sexual advances. Reed used his wallet chain to choke McMillian, and then dragged him into a body of water to make sure that he was dead. He burned the body.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 Mohr, Holbrook (February 28, 2013). "Miss. Town Stunned by Slaying of Mayoral Candidate". Time. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  2. 1 2 Holbrook Mohr (2013-02-28). "Marco McMillian Dead: Openly Gay Mississippi Mayoral Candidate's Body Found, Homicide Suspected". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  3. 1 2 Katie Davies; Louise Boyle; Helen Pow (2013-03-04). "Marco McMillian: Mississippi's first gay mayoral candidate, 34, 'was burned and beaten' and dumped on a riverbank". Mail Online. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  4. ↑ Emily Le Coz (March 6, 2013). "FBI monitoring investigation of mayoral candidate Marco McMillian's death". Clarion Ledger. Retrieved 2013-03-11.
  5. ↑ "Police make arrest in death of Mississippi mayoral candidate". CNN. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  6. ↑ Irene Monroe (2013-03-07). "Was Marco McMillian Killed Because of His Sexual Orientation?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2013-03-26.
  7. ↑ Hull, Anne (8 March 2013). "In Mississippi, death of politician Marco McMillian stirs old civil-rights fears". Washington Post. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  8. ↑ Ross, Janell (10 March 2013). "Marco McMillian Funeral: Silence Speaks Volumes". Huffington Post. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "AUTOPSY: MAN ADMITS KILLING GAY MISS. CANDIDATE". AP. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Clarksdale Candidate's Murder Case Moved to Quitman County". Hattiesburg American. February 12, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Guilty Verdict Reached in Marco McMillian Murder Trial". WMC Action News 5. March 12, 2015.

External links

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