Easthampton man ruled suicide after being found hanging from branch

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

EASTHAMPTON - A man found hanging from a tree on Stone Path Lane early Wednesday morning committed suicide, according to officials at the Northwestern District Attorney's office.

At 6:47 a.m., local police and members of the state police's Crime Prevention and Control Unit responded to 11 Stone Path Lane, where the body of Thomas D. Major, 56, was found hanging from a tree branch, according to First Assistant District Attorney Renee Steese.

Steese declined to say whether the tree was located in the front yard or backyard of the three-story brick house, but did say that Major's body would have been visible to pedestrians and motorists.

"We are only commenting on this because it happened outside and we know that there were people in the area," Steese said.

- OWEN BOSS