Remembering Tory Medley — and the Need for Truth

Waukesha, Wis. (Dec. 3, 2025) -

Torrance “Tory” Medley, 39, was a man from Milwaukee. By all accounts from his family, he was gentle, kind, and loved by those who knew him. According to his sister, he had “a kindest, sweetest spirit” and was “a gentle soul.”

His family — and the community supporting them — are now grieving a loss that feels both deeply personal and deeply unsettling.

What Happened — What We Know

• On November 13, 2025, first-responders discovered Medley hanging from a tree at Brookfield Hills Golf Course (near I-94 and Moorland Road, Brookfield, Wisconsin).

  
  

• Officials from the City of Brookfield Police Department said, at the time of discovery, that Medley’s death appeared to be a suicide — citing asphyxiation via a strap around his neck attached to a tree branch; they reported no signs of trauma beyond injuries consistent with hanging.

  
  

• Police say they have collected and are reviewing surveillance footage (from nearby businesses, transit routes, and other cameras) and that — as of now — “none of the video reviewed substantiates probable cause of a crime being committed.”

  
  

Even with those findings, the investigation remains ongoing. The official cause of death has not yet been definitively closed, according to publicly available statements.

Why the Family — and Waukesha NAACP (and beyond) — Demand Answers

From the outset, the family expressed deep discomfort with how quickly the “suicide” label was applied.

Important unresolved questions remain:

• How did Medley — a Milwaukee resident without a car — end up at a suburban golf course late at night? His family says they know of no reason he would be there.

  
  

• Why was suicide determined so quickly? According to his sister and family attorney William Sulton, forensic conclusions should come only after thorough investigation, not from law enforcement assumptions made under pressure.

  
  

• Have all investigative avenues been exhausted and shared with the family? The family and community demand full transparency: surveillance footage, autopsy results, a comprehensive timeline, and unedited facts.

  
  

At a November 2025 press conference, local NAACP representatives — including from Waukesha and Milwaukee chapters — stood with the family, stressing the importance of clarity and accountability.

As one official noted: when a Black man is found hanging from a tree, the community’s history demands far more scrutiny than a quick conclusion of “suicide.”

What This Means for the Community

This is more than just one family’s tragedy. It resonates on multiple levels:

• Trust in institutions: For many in Black and marginalized communities, a history of insufficient investigations — especially in cases involving Black men and deaths by hanging — has bred deep skepticism.

  
  

• Demand for transparency: This case underlines the need for open, accountable investigations; for authorities to communicate clearly with the public and especially with the bereaved; for justice to be visible.

  
  

• A call to vigilance and solidarity: When a death occurs under ambiguous circumstances, it affects more than just the immediate family. It sends ripples through neighborhoods — raising fear, questions, and grief. Community organizations like the NAACP play a critical role bridging grief and action.

  
  

What the Family Is Asking — and What We Must Do

The Medley family isn’t making assumptions. As they’ve repeatedly stated, they want answers.

Specifically, they’re demanding:

• Full access to surveillance footage

• A meeting with investigators and the medical examiner’s office

• A clear, unedited accounting of the timeline leading to Medley’s death

• Transparent communication with the family and the public

  
  

As community members, neighbors, activists — and readers — we should support that demand. A thorough, transparent investigation is not just for their closure. It’s for the credibility of our justice system, and our collective humanity.

Conclusion: Let It Not Be Another Name Lost

Tory Medley had a name. He had a family. He had people who cared about him.

Whether this ends up ruled a tragic suicide, or something else entirely — the standard must be clarity, respect, and full accountability. Anything less would be a disservice to his memory, and to the community he came from.

In the coming days, weeks, and months — we must stay vigilant. We must continue to ask hard questions. Because grief demands more than silence. It demands truth.