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Update in the Death of Mikayla Miller: Where Do Black Female Bodies Go from Here?
On May 20th, my article on 16-year-old Mikayla Miller was featured in CULTURED Publication. It would mark my active following into the investigation of her case. As previously reported, Mikayla Miller was found hanging from a tree, with a belt around her neck on April 18th in Hopkinton, Massachusetts.
In the initial analysis, investigators found no signs of struggle or foul play involved and immediately ruled Miller’s death a suicide. The medical examiner officially backed this ruling on May 20th. One month and 2 days after Miller’s death. The next day, Calvina Strothers (Miller’s mother) called for an independent investigation. In their official announcement, Monica Cannon-Grant, a spokesperson for Miller’s family also mentioned they were advised not to take the story public as it would reveal Miller’s sexual orientation. Miller was a strong advocate and member of the LGBT Community.
To the dismay of the investigators and police, the Miller case is slowly reaching national attention. And while the medical examiner has officially ruled Miller’s death a suicide, there is still more work to be done. The latest updates in the Miller case certainly tells us the journey for justice will take longer than we hoped. . .
Ex-Girlfriend Expresses Mental Health Concerns Before Her Death
Emails and messages now reveal that Miller’s ex-girlfriend, Kaitlyn Anderson reached out in concern over Miller’s mental health before she died. In a Facebook message to Miller’s aunt, Anderson wrote: “I am very worried that Mikayla is going to hurt herself.” In an email to Miller’s guidance counselor, Anderson wrote: “I am really worried about Mikayla Miller and I think she really needs someone to talk to.”
