NAACP Demands Answers in Hanging Death Near Wisconsin Golf Course

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over the death of Torrance “Tory” Medley, a 39-year-old Black man found hanging near Wisconsin’s Brookfield Hills Golf Course. While authorities have quickly ruled his death a suicide, his family and the NAACP are demanding answers, alleging a rushed investigation and a lack of transparency.

Family and NAACP Demand Transparency

Medley’s family, along with representatives from the Waukesha and Milwaukee NAACP branches, held a press conference near the golf course, calling for access to surveillance footage, a meeting with investigators, details on any injuries, and a full independent review of the case. Family attorney William Sultan stated that the Medley family feels they have been “mistreated” by the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office and the City of Brookfield Police Department.

Sultan argues that police prematurely concluded suicide before forensic specialists had completed their work, suggesting the department “rushed to judgment.” He emphasized that death investigations should be conducted by forensic pathologists, not police officers. Furthermore, the family has no reason to believe Medley would take his own life or travel to that specific golf course, and they claim they’ve been denied standard investigative courtesies.

Community ‘Shaken’ by Response

Mantra Moore, First Vice President of the Waukesha NAACP, told reporters that the community is deeply unsettled by Medley’s death and the initial police response. “Waukesha cares. When a public tragedy such as this takes place, the community wants answers,” Moore stated, adding that the NAACP aims to act as a bridge for greater transparency and to help the family find peace.

However, Brookfield Police Chief Chris Garcia maintains there are no indications of foul play. According to a statement, officers found Medley kneeling with his feet on the ground and a strap around his neck attached to a tree branch, suggesting he used body weight to cause asphyxiation. Garcia noted no signs of trauma beyond asphyxiation and no evidence of another person’s presence. Police also stated Medley had been experiencing mental health challenges in the days prior to his death.

A Disturbing National Pattern

BOSSIP has previously reported on similar cases where Black men have been found hanged under circumstances that their families dispute. These cases often involve swift suicide rulings, limited communication from authorities, and investigative decisions that raise more questions than answers. Examples include Dennoriss Richardson in Alabama, Jayvon Givan in New Mexico, and Demartravion “Trey” Reed in Mississippi, where families have openly challenged suicide rulings and alleged harassment or suspicious circumstances.

Civil rights advocates stress that even when suicide is a possibility, families deserve transparency, access to evidence, and clear explanations. The Medley family, through their attorney, is firm in their desire for the truth, stating, “Regardless of what the ultimate conclusion is here, the family deserves to know what actually happened.”