The Colbert County Sheriff’s Office in Alabama is asking the FBI to investigate a case involving a Black man whose body was found hanging in an abandoned home amid claims from his wife that his death was made to look like a suicide. The sheriff’s office requested the FBI's involvement in the death of 39-year-old Dennoriss Richardson, whose body was found in September, according to The Associated Press. The sheriff's office did not immediately respond Saturday to a request for comment from NBC News. "The FBI is aware of the tragic death of Dennoriss Richardson and takes allegations of federal law violations seriously," the FBI said in a statement. Colbert County Sheriff Eric Balentine said, according to AL.com, that police spoke to other family members of Dennoriss Richardson who said he had been depressed.

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Persons: Dennoriss Richardson, Leigh Richardson, AP Richardson, Leigh Ann Richardson, It’s, Dennoriss, Eric Balentine, Balentine, Sheriff Balentine, Leigh Ann, AL.com Organizations: FBI, Associated Press, NBC News, AP, Sheffield City Jail, Department of Forensic Science Locations: Colbert, Alabama, Colbert County, Sheffield, Huntsville