Mayoral Candidate Beaten, Burned Says Family, 'We Feel This Was Not a Random Act of Violence'

A gay, black Mississippi mayoral candidate killed last week was beaten, dragged and burned before his body was dumped near a river, according to his family.

The family of Marco McMillian issued a statement late Sunday stating, a coroner who performed an autopsy shared about the horrendous manner of his death.

"This is a very difficult time for us, the family of Marco Watson McMillian of Clarksdale, Mississippi, as we have lost our beloved son, family member, and friend. In this time of our great loss, we want to thank everyone for their words of comfort and support," the family said.

"We know that Marco was brutally murdered. His body was found on Wednesday, February 26, 2013, beaten, dragged and burned (set afire). This was reported in our meeting with the local coroner on two occasions. We were informed that the official autopsy report could take two to four weeks to complete.

"We feel this was not a random act of violence based on the condition of the body when it was found," the McMillian family said. "Marco, nor anyone, should have their lives end in this manner."

Coahoma County Coroner Scotty Meredith declined to comment on the family's statement and spokesman for the Coahoma County Sheriff's Department had no immediate comment.

McMillian, 33-year-old was one of the first feasible open gay candidates for mayor of Clarksdale, Mississippi and his body was found Wednesday near the Mississippi River west of Clarksdale. Law enforcement officials arrested Lawrence Reed, 22-year-old man a day later for murder in connection with the case.

The Coahoma County Sheriff's Department has released only few details regarding the killing or a possible motive, however stated the killing is not being treated as hate crime.

The cause of death has not been released and an autopsy was performed however the results will not be released until toxicology tests are complete and authorities say it could take two or three weeks.

The candidate has been missing since February 25 when his SUV was involved in a crash in rural part of Coahoma County in Mississippi Delta by Reed, the suspect. McMillian was not in the vehicle at the time of the accident.