UPDATED: Wednesday at 6:20 a.m.
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HOPKINTON – The Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the cause of death of Hopkinton teen Mikayla Miller, 16, as suicide.
the death certificate was issued about today, one month after Miller, a black LGBTQ+ teen was found dead in the woods by a jogger.
The death certificate said Miller hanged herself and died from asphyxiation.
Her mother, Calvina Strothers, has been seeking transparency in the investigation. There have been allegations from the family and outside organization that the Hopkinton Police and the District Attorney’s office mishandled the case.
The civil rights attorney who represented George Floyd’s family in Minneapolis is planning a news conference with her mother on Wednesday.
“OCME (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner) today provided cause and manner of death to Hopkinton Town Hall for entry on a death certificate,” the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said in a statement. “In light of the ongoing investigation, we are referring case-specific questions to the Middlesex DA.”
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“We have received notice that the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled that Mikayla Miller died by suicide. We have been in conversation with her family’s attorney regarding this development,” said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan in a statement. ““This ruling addresses the manner and means of Mikayla’s death. However, our investigation into the events surrounding Mikayla’s death remains active and ongoing. We will continue to explore every investigative angle necessary as we do that work and intend to issue a complete and thorough report at the conclusion of the investigation. We will continue to be in contact with Mikayla’s family’s representatives moving forward and we are asking for continued patience as we perform this critically important work.”
The DA also said ” Please be intentional in checking on the mental health of your loved ones and the children in your communities. Nothing matters more. If you are thinking about harming yourself call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) if you are looking for resources please visit www.namimass.org.”
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