Death Of Muslim Teen Found Hanging In Tree Ruled 'Undetermined'

SEATTLE, WA - The Snohomish County medical examiner has changed the manner of death of a black Muslim teenager found hanging from a tree in Lake Stevens from suicide to "undetermined."

The change, which was published by the medical examiner on Tuesday, is due to circumstances surrounding the discovery of the teen's body.

Ben M. Keita, 18, was found on Jan. 9 in a wooded area in Lake Stevens near a housing development. He had been reported missing on Nov. 26. Keita's family - who say he never had a problem with depression - wants anyone with information about their son's death to come forward. Meanwhile, the Washington Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is asking the FBI to investigate.

An "undetermined" cause of death means that there is "little available information about the circumstances surrounding [the death] or where known information equally supports, or conflicts with, more than one manner or death," according to the Snohomish medical examiner's website.

According to Washington CAIR, Keita was found hanging from a rope tied 50 feet high in a tree, and the area where Keita was found was searched at least twice by police before his body was finally discovered. The medical examiner changed the manner of death due to those two factors. Keita's body was found within 12 feet of a home, Washington CAIR director Arsalan Bukhari told Patch, and it was found by a group of teens who were just passing through the area.

"There were searches [for Keita] done on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, and at least one with a K9. There was a helicopter search on Dec. 7," Bukhari said. "Either the searches were missing something or the body was missing."

That's why Washington CAIR has written a letter asking the FBI to step in. And on behalf of the family, Bukhari is asking anyone with knowledge of Keita's disappearance to come forward.

The FBI may review the case, according to KIRO 7, saying in a statement, "We are aware of circumstances of the individual’s death and will review them with consideration of federal law. If warranted, we may conduct further investigation. A review does not necessarily result in the opening of an investigation.”

Lake Stevens police closed the case last week, according to reports.

The Sky Valley Chronicle quoted Seattle Plymouth Congregational Church Rev. Kele Brown saying that, historically, lynchings have been written off as suicide.

“We are careful not to rush to judgment. Historically lynchings were often deemed quickly as suicide without the benefit of thorough inquiry," Brown said.

Image via Lake Stevens Police