A body found hanging inside a vacant home has sparked deep concern among residents in Fort Worth’s Historic Como neighborhood.
The Fort Worth Police Department Homicide Unit is conducting a death investigation after calls to an unoccupied home in the Como neighborhood about a deceased person.
According to a police spokesperson, officers responded to the 5800 block of Kilpatrick Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 15, around 8:20 a.m. That’s where officers say an individual interested in purchasing the property told them about a body hanging inside the home.
The vacant house, according to police, has been frequented by homeless people in the past. The initial investigation by homicide detectives and crime scene investigators reveals no signs of foul play, police say. It has not been determined if the case is a suicide.
The exact cause and manner of death will be determined by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner, who will also work to identify the remains and determine the person’s ethnicity, police said.
“People in Como have talked about a homeless man they’ve seen squatting in that house,” said Rico Copeland.
According to Copeland, people who live in the Como area hope to learn more about the deceased person and what led to the unfortunate death following recent reports of hangings involving people of color.
In 2026, several deaths involving Black people found hanging have drawn national attention and calls for further investigation, particularly in the South. Cases have been reported in Mississippi, North Carolina, Michigan, and other states, but authorities have not determined that these incidents form a nationwide pattern of lynchings. Some deaths have been officially ruled as suicides, while others remain under investigation, according to authorities.
Fort Worth police do not believe there is any threat to others in the neighborhood. They want to hear from anyone with information about the case.