The family of the murdered Mississippi mayoral candidate claimed he was beaten, dragged and burned.
Carter Womack, godfather of Marco McMillian, 34, said the Coahoma County coroner informed the family about the abuse. Authorities have declined to comment on the allegations and said the motive behind the murder was being investigated. McMillian was found murdered near the Mississippi River levee.
The family has maintained that the murder was a hate crime.
"We know that Marco was brutally murdered. His body was found on Wednesday, beaten, dragged and burned," the family told reporters. "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 that this was not a random act of violence based on the condition of the body when it was found. Marco, nor anyone, should have their lives end in this manner."
The Los Angeles Times reported the family was demanding a complete investigation into McMillian's death.
The killing of McMillian got significant attention because he was the first openly gay mayoral candidate in the state. Police arrested and charged 22-year-old Lawrence Reed with his murder Monday. Reed told police that he was driving McMillian's car at the time of the head-on collision near the Tallahatchie County line a day before authorities found McMillian's body.
A graduate from Jackson State University, McMillian, a Democrat, attained a master's degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. He was one of the four Democrats contesting for the Clarksdale mayor position and had an agenda to fight crime and unemployment in the city famous for its blues music.
