Orlando Community Demands Answers in Yolna Lubrin's Suspicious Death

 

Questions are swirling within an Orlando community about the death of a Black woman, with family members believing there's more to it than the police claim. 


They say Yolna Lubrin, also known as Yo-Yo, was found hanging from a tree in a stranger's backyard on September 28. When the police arrived, they removed her from the tree and attempted to provide life-saving assistance but sadly pronounced her dead at the scene.

The investigation into her death is ongoing, but the police have indicated that, for now, they suspect suicide and not foul play. The definitive cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner.

However, the family isn't accepting this explanation. They argue that she was discovered partially undressed and believe there are inconsistencies, including the fact that Lubrin had no connection to the neighborhood where her body was found.


They also allege that Lubrin's car was severely vandalized with all doors open, raising the possibility of assault or sexual assault, according to Pastor Carl Soto, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Restoration Inc. "Today, we are calling out Chief Eric Smith, and we are urging him to have his department immediately retract this suicide allegation and thoroughly investigate all aspects of Mrs. Lubrin's death," Soto stated.

Lubrin's family believes that further investigative steps are necessary before concluding that suicide was the cause of her death.

"Overall, they have not done their due diligence in providing more insight," said Yo-Yo's sister, Naomi Lubrin, regarding the police's efforts.

Nevertheless, the police point to a documented history of mental illness, witness statements, and phone communications that suggest Lubrin had expressed suicidal thoughts, according to WESH 2 News.


In a statement, the Orlando Police Department stated, "While all death investigations are based on the presence of trauma to the body to determine a criminal act, our investigation has not revealed any physical injuries other than the ligature marks on the neck caused by hanging."

Yolna Lubrin would have celebrated her 32nd birthday on October 13. Her sister described her as a brilliant and amazing woman with a great sense of humor.

On social media, people are sharing "Justice for Yolna" in support of the family's call for a more thorough investigation.

Residents of the Orlando community where Lubrin's body was discovered are noting similarities between her death and that of Nevan Baker, an Orlando Black man who was found hanging from a tree near Camping World Stadium. Authorities also ruled his death as suicide.


Activist Miles Mulrain Jr. wrote on Facebook, "This is not the first time or the first time in a while this has happened in Orlando; just in 2020, we were asking the same questions about Nevan Baker, who was found hanging in a tree in a very suspicious way for it to be a suicide." 

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