FBI called in on noose investigation

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office is now working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the case of a noose that was found hanging on a Yuma man's mailbox last month.

"We are assisting them in a joint investigation which is still currently ongoing," said Capt. Eben Bratcher,of the Yuma County Sheriff's Office on Thursday.

On June 11, The Sun's circulation department called former Yuma County Supervisor Ray Moore, who is black, and informed him that the carrier who delivers his newspaper saw a noose hanging from the mailbox in front of his home.

Nooses, often identified with racism, are known by many as symbols of lynchings.

Moore, who lives on Avenue 4E south of County 14th Street, said he left the noose on his mailbox that day until the YCSO could come investigate the matter.

The noose, which was cut and tied together from a piece of rope, was stuck to the door of the Moores' mailbox with several pieces of red tape.

A lightly populated neighborhood with a few other houses in the vicinity, Moore has lived at the residence from 1978 to 1993, when he moved to Tucson and then moved back in 2004.

Bratcher added that the two agencies are following up on any and all leads that develop in the case.

He added that YCSO would still like to speak with anyone who may have any information regarding the case.

YCSO, however, has admitted in previous articles in The Sun that without any witnesses or physical evidence, the case would be difficult to solve.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.