( CNN ) -- The family of a Mississippi mayoral candidate claimed Sunday that he died after being `` beaten , dragged and burned , '' but it 's an account a medical examiner disputed , saying `` I do n't know where that is coming from . '' On Wednesday , authorities found Marco McMillian 's body near a levee between Sherard and Rena Lara , two unincorporated communities about 15 minutes from Clarksdale . The 34-year-old McMillian had been running for mayor of Clarksdale , a city of about 18,000 people in northwestern Mississippi 's Delta region . His body was `` set afire , '' according to his family , who said they twice met with a coroner . Coahoma County Medical Examiner Scotty Meredith told CNN that there were `` signs of an altercation , '' but that did n't kill him . `` Beating is not the cause of death , '' said Meredith , who confirmed he 'd met twice with McMillian 's family . `` He was beaten , but not badly . '' The medical examiner added he did n't know how the family came to the conclusion that McMillian was dragged and burned . The late politician 's family , in the statement released through his former campaign manager Jarod Keith , called for `` a full and thorough investigation . '' They said McMillian had told `` family and close friends that he was very concerned for his personal safety . '' `` We feel that this was not a random act of violence , based on the condition of the body when it was found , '' they said . `` Marco , nor anyone , should have their lives end in this manner . '' Yet Meredith insisted `` this was not a targeted attack . '' `` No way , '' the medical examiner said . `` This was more of a personal dispute . '' The Coahoma County Sheriff 's Office announced on Thursday that a suspect , Lawrence Reed , faces a murder charge in the death . Reed , 22 , was found in McMillian 's wrecked SUV on Tuesday morning and was taken to a hospital . McMillian 's Facebook page shows a glimpse at a man who was politically ambitious . It includes a picture of McMillian posing with President Barack Obama . His campaign motto : `` Moving Clarksdale forward . '' McMillian 's short biography on Facebook said he had spent much of his career raising money for universities after he graduated from Jackson State with a degree in elementary education . He also received a master 's in philanthropy and development from Saint Mary 's University of Minnesota . In 2004 , Ebony magazine recognized him as one of the country 's top leaders younger than 30 . He received the Thurgood Marshall Prestige Award from the Thurgood Marshall College Fund five years later . And from 2007 to 2011 , McMillian was executive director of his fraternity , Phi Beta Sigma , which after his death recalled how he 'd `` made an incredible difference in his community . '' He secured the first federal contract to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS among African-Americans for the fraternity and helped it form partnerships with organizations such as the U.S. Marine Corps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in discussing the disease . Patricia McMillian said that even though media reports since her son 's death have labeled him as openly gay , his death likely had nothing to do with his sexual orientation . Without offering specifics , the family said Sunday that it hoped to share information from the ongoing investigation in order `` to dispel speculations surrounding his death . '' CNN 's Greg Botelho , Ashley Fantz and Steve Almasy contributed to this report .
Marco ##ni 's family says he was ` ` beaten , dragged and burned '' last week . Medical examiner says he does n't know why the family says he was dragged , burned . " : The Clarksdale mayoral candidate was found dead miles from his wrecked car . His family says the death was n't ` ` random '' ; an official says it was ` ` more of a personal dispute ''