Magee was found dead Sept. 11 in a wooded area. A 911 caller and Magee's family said he was hanging from a tree. The Vance County Sheriff described him as having his back up against a tree and a rope around his neck; he said there was no lynching.
"This is an absolute tragedy, no matter how it panned out," attorney Harry Daniels said. "The pictures that we saw were very clear that he was hanging, not in the manner in which you may have saw in the '60s or '20s and '30s but there's nothing to take away from it."
Sheriff Curtis Brame said there was no foul play suspected in Magee's death. He said preliminary information pointed to a possible suicide.
Javion Magee family and attorneys speak after hearing from investigators
"The manner and the cause of death of Javion has not been determined at this time," Daniels said. "So for any suggestion that it's a suicide, anybody stating that it was a suicide would be grossly premature."
Magee's family, many of whom live in Illinois, were concerned to learn their beloved son was found hanging from a tree. They said he never had any history of suicidal thoughts or depression. He was a trucker who took up that job following in his father's footsteps, possibly looking to establish a family legacy and successful business. He also had plans in the coming days to travel to Texas to hang out with some of his cousins.
Because they were concerned about Magee's death not being a suicide but investigators jumping to that conclusion, the family reached out to attorneys to help make sure the investigation was completed thoroughly and fairly, they said.
A week after Magee's death, his family was able to speak with investigators in person. Attorney Lee Merrit said the discussion took about two hours and went through all the evidence gathered so far.
"We're investigating the lynching of a young man in 2024. It would be a misnomer to say that kind of thing does not happen anymore," Merrit said.
Merrit clarified that he and the family did not know whether a lynching actually took place, but they wanted to make sure there was a thorough investigation to determine exactly what did happen.
"Our main focus here ... is to find out what happened to Javion. This family is not here to point the finger at the sheriff's office. They want to find out what happened. Wherever that evidence may lead, then that's something that they can deal with," Daniels said. "At the end of the day, the most important thing is that we are here, that you are here, to ensure transparency moving forward."
The pressure from family and attorney prompted the sheriff's office to release new details on the timetable of Javion Magee's death, including information that the preliminary autopsy found that Magee did not have any defensive wounds and no sign of physical or sexual assault.
Merrit and Daniels said that the family planned to get an independent autopsy to compare findings.
TIMELINE | Sheriff details evidence leading up to Magee's death
We know that Magee was in Henderson dropping off a load at the Walmart distribution center for his trucking company. On September 10, just before 5 p.m., his truck was seen idling in the dirt parking lot not far from where his body would later be found.
He then goes to Walmart, where surveillance video shows him buying the utility rope. On the way out in the parking lot, around 6:22 p.m., about 16 hours before he was found dead, Magee gave $228 to a homeless person outside Walmart. That person told investigators that Magee told him, "I don't know how much it is, but if I had more I would give it to you."
He then goes to a Hampton Inn nearby, but there wasn't a room available. So instead, he heads back to the dirt lot off Vanco Mill Road where he was earlier.
At 6:52 p.m., he's seen walking away from truck to the woods alone with an object in his hand.
At 7 p.m., he goes back to the truck without anything in his hand. Thirty minutes later, the truck's ignition is turned off and never started again. He's then seen on video walking away from the truck alone.
His body would be discovered with the wrapper from the rope lying next to him. His body was discovered by people mowing grass who called 911 on September 11 around 10 a.m.
Magee's mother and father spoke briefly at the end of Wednesday's news conference. They thanked everybody for the support they've received and asked to be kept in prayer.
Magee's father also talked about how his son was hard-working and competitive.
"He was one of the first people to say 'hey dad; hey I want to drive.' I'm like wow what makes you want to do that? And he said 'I just want to do it, put in my work,' and that's just how he was. He wanted everyone to be together that was his heart," Kori Magee said.
He also had a message of unity.
"If I can tap into (Javion). I would say he wants this country to come together; not all this divided stuff. We all need to come together, because if there wasn't a divide this wouldn't have happened," he said.
Chicago truck driver found dead in NC near tree with rope around neck
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide -- free, confidential help is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call or text the national lifeline at 988.