First investigation: ruled to be accidental, fall due to intoxication, odd circumstances
Second investigation: ruled to be accidental, fall due to intoxication
Deaths
Tamla Horsford, aged 40
Inquiries
First investigation: Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
Second investigation: Georgia Bureau of Investigation
Arrests
None
On November 4, 2018, Tamla Horsford was discovered dead in the backyard of the Cumming, Georgia, home where she had been attending a slumber party with other "football moms" the night before. The 40-year-old was a mother of five.[3]
The Forsyth County Sheriff department initially ruled the death an accident, stating that the "multiple blunt force injuries" were related to Horsford likely falling from the balcony due to "acute ethanol intoxication".[4] A second autopsy requested by her family revealed further abrasions to her body.[5] The family's attorney also stated that lack of evidence, types of injuries discovered, and mismatched witness accounts strongly suggested homicide.[6] On February 20, 2019, Major Joe Perkins of the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office announced that the case would be closed and that there was no evidence of foul play.[7]
The relationship between Horsford's race and her death has been a subject of controversy and debate and a race-based dimension to her death has been implied by family and media. While the official investigation concluded that her death was accidental and not racially motivated, some have argued that her race played a role in the events leading up to her death and in the investigation that followed.[8][9]
The case did not receive public recognition until two months after her death, when one of the witnesses was fired from his county court officer job for internally accessing the incident report.[3] The case, along with the hashtag #tamlahorsford, quickly spread around the internet, along with suspicion of foul play.[4] In the summer of 2020, the nationwide protests against racism and police brutality sparked by the murder of George Floyd renewed public interest and advocacy of the case.[6] Under the pressure of public outcry, including posts from celebrities such as T.I. and 50 Cent, the Forsyth County Sheriff requested that the case be reopened and investigated by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.[6][10][11]
^"Tamla Horsford's Case To Be Reopened After Significant Outcry -". Black Enterprise. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
^"50 Cent and T.I. Demand Investigation Into Death of Tamla Horsford After Review Suggests Possible Homicide". Complex. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
^ abThompson, Desire (February 20, 2019). "Six Things To Know About The Mysterious Death Of Tamla Horsford". Vibe. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^ abEdwards, Breanna (February 19, 2019). "Georgia Authorities Nearing End Of Investigation In Case Of Woman Who Died While Attending Overnight Party". Essence. Archived from the original on June 17, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^Petchenik, Mike (June 8, 2020). "Family attorney says his own investigation shows Forsyth Co. mother of five may have been killed". WSB-TV. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^ abcPaglia, Brian (June 12, 2020). "GBI agrees to open investigation into the death of Tamla Horsford". Forsyth County News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^Haney, Adrianne M. (June 12, 2020). "Case of mom found dead in backyard after overnight house party to be re-examined". WXIA-TV. Archived from the original on June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
^"Was It Murder? Death of Beloved Mom at Party Was Ruled Accidental Fall — But Family Is Suspicious". Peoplemag. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^Cappello, Nile (July 10, 2020). "The Unanswered Questions of Tamla Horsford's Death". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
^"50 Cent And T.I. Joins The Call For An Investigation Into The Mysterious Death Of Tamla Horsford". BET.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
^"50 Cent and T.I. Demand Investigation Into Death of Tamla Horsford After Review Suggests Possible Homicide". Complex. Archived from the original on June 21, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
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