Santana Hannah
Santana Hannah was 19 when he was found hanging in a cell at the Plainfield police lockup in the early morning of April 10, 1990, hours after police had arrested him. The medical examiner and a special Union County grand jury concluded that he died by suicide. His friends and family reject that finding, and the family says he was a victim of police brutality. In September 2025 they planned a block party and asked the Union County Prosecutor to reopen the investigation.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (disputed). The medical examiner and a special Union County grand jury accepted suicide by hanging, while his friends and family reject that finding, believe he was a victim of police brutality, and called for the Union County Prosecutor to reopen the investigation.
Reported by: Medical examiner (medical examiner or coroner); Union County grand jury (court); Friends and family (family or their lawyers).