The Mysterious Death of Ben Keita: Suicide or Foul Play?

The Disappearance and Discovery of Ben Kea

• 🗓️ 18-year-old Ben Kea was reported missing in November 2016.
• 🌲 In January 2017, his body was found hanging from a rope in the woods near his home in Lake Stevens, Washington.
• ❓ The initial ruling of suicide was later changed to undetermined by the medical examiner.

Ben Kea: A Promising Young Life

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Ben was described by his family as a kind, respectful, and generous young man with a beautiful heart.
• 🎓 He was an excellent student, on track to graduate high school and participating in a running start program at Everett Community College.
• 🩺 Ben aspired to pursue medical training and become a medical examiner.
• 💔 His family reported no history of depression, anxiety, or psychological issues.

Circumstances of the Death

• 🔑 Ben left home without his wallet, phone, or car keys, which his family found unusual.
• 🥶 His family worried about his sickle cell anemia, especially given freezing temperatures.
• 🌲 The woods where Ben was found had been searched weeks prior, raising questions about how his body was missed or when he died.
• 📏 The height of the tree branch (estimated between 30-50 feet) and the position of his body raised significant doubts about the suicide ruling.
• 🧊 Ice crystals in his heart blood suggested his body may have been in a semifrozen state for up to six weeks.

Investigation and Speculation

• 🕵️ Authorities found no evidence of foul play, but the circumstances led to speculation of a racially or religiously motivated hate crime.
• 🏛️ The Kea family, working with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), urged the FBI to investigate, fearing bias played a role.
• 📄 The FBI conducted a review and concurred with local police that evidence did not indicate a criminal act.
• 📱 Ben's phone was reportedly wiped before detectives could examine it, adding another layer of mystery.

Unanswered Questions and Conclusion

• ❓ Despite multiple reviews by law enforcement, the FBI, and the state attorney general's office, no conclusive evidence of a criminal act was found.
• 🗣️ Communication between the family and police reportedly broke down at times.
• ⚖️ The Lake Stevens Police closed the investigation in March 2017, determining all evidence indicated Ben took his own life.
• 🤔 The case remains mysterious, with authorities believing suicide was the most plausible explanation, though the manner of death is officially listed as undetermined.