KC man found dead by hanging in New Mexico. A year later, family seeks answers
A Kansas City man was found dead in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2024 — but his family didn’t find out until last week.
Jayvon Givan, 29, who was living in Santa Fe, was found dead by hanging outside an Albuquerque business on Sep. 17, 2024, according to an incident report from the Albuquerque Police Department obtained by The Star.
It wasn’t until Oct. 1, 2025, when Givan’s sister, Jaivryon Walker, called Albuquerque police to report him missing, that family members learned he died, according to a missing persons report from the Albuquerque Police Department .
The report says Walker, who called Albuquerque police from Kansas City, told officers Givan left Kansas City around a year ago to “backpack through America.” She had last spoken with Givan nearly a year prior to making the call in Oct. 2025, and the man told her he was “in ‘trouble,’” but okay, according to the report.
In an email to The Star, Albuquerque police communications director Gilbert Gallegos said the department was informed about “speculation on social media” regarding Givan’s death. He said investigators did identify signs of foul play, but that the medical examiner ruled Givan’s death a suicide.
Walker has said she does not believe it was a suicide.
Walker told the Albuquerque Journal that police did not notify the family after Givan’s death, or investigate his death. She said she believes it was because he was an unhoused Black man.
“We never felt he was suicidal,” Walker told the Albuquerque Journal. “I believe the case needs to be opened up and investigated as a homicide.”
Dozens gathered in front of the Albuquerque police headquarters Monday calling for an “immediate autopsy,” transparency regarding the investigation and for APD Police Chief Harold Medina to step down from his position, according to the Albuquerque Journal.
“Black people don’t hang themselves in public in the United States,” community organizer Selinda Guerrero said during the rally Monday night, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. “We don’t do that.”
On Tuesday, Medina said the case “needs further scrutiny,” and that he’s arranging for an “independent review” of the case, according to local news station KOB 4.
Publicity surrounding Givan’s case comes after the Sept. 15 hanging death of De’Martravion “Trey” Reed, who was found hanging from a tree at the Delta State University campus in Cleveland, Mississippi, according to the Clarion Ledger.
Authorities quickly ruled Reed’s death a suicide, but his family has hired attorneys to conduct a private investigation.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 10:32 AM.
