CLARKSDALE, Miss. -- The body of Marco McMillian, the former Alabama A&M administrator whose body was found last week, was "beaten, dragged and burned," according to a statement released by his family to the

A Shelby Miss. man, 22-year-old

in McMillian's murder.

"We feel this was not a random act of violence based on the condition of the body when it was found," the McMillian family said in the statement. "Marco, nor anyone, should have their lives end in this manner."

McMillian worked in the cabinet of former Alabama A&M President Robert Jennings from 2006-07. McMillian was running for mayor of his hometown of Clarksdale when he went missing after his SUV was in a car accident last Tuesday morning.

Police began searching for McMillian after the accident in which Reed was driving his car.

Family members of both McMillian and Reed have confirmed the two men knew each other. Coahuma County Sheriff's Department has said only that McMillian's death is not considered a hate crime connected to the fact that he was openly gay.



To read the full report in the Clarion Ledger, click here.

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