Tyler Perry Speaks Out After Nephew's Alleged Suicide in Prison

Tyler Perry‘s 26-year-old nephew Gavin Porter is dead after allegedly committing suicide while in prison and now the actor and filmmaker is speaking out with the family’s concerns.

Gavin was serving a 20-year sentence in prison for shooting and killing his father in front of his mom. TMZ reported that he was found hanging in his cell from a bed sheet this week.

“There is an active investigation at the prison’s request. We are currently awaiting the results of an autopsy. The initial investigation did not suspect foul play. We are also conducting an investigation into the fight which occurred earlier and Porter‘s involvement in that incident,” a rep from the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Tyler and his family have decided to request an additional autopsy and they are continuing to say this was an “alleged” suicide until they have more facts.

Click inside to read the full statement that Tyler Perry released…

“A few years ago, my nephew committed a heinous crime. The murder shook our entire family to its core,” Tyler said in his statement on Instagram.

“Despite his horrible act, before he went to prison I went to see him in the local jail. I assured him that we all still loved him, but it was important to all of us, including his mother, that he was punished for this horrific crime that he had committed. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison,” he added. “It was my hope that after serving his time, really reflecting, showing much remorse, and asking God for forgiveness, that he would have been able to come work for me. Where he would join all the other former inmates that work for me and turn his life around, just as they have. But that day will never come.”

“Three days ago, I got the horrible news that he allegedly committed suicide in prison. I say allegedly because, unfortunately, our criminal justice system and prisons have been notorious for cover ups and/or getting it wrong. With that in mine I have hired Dr. Michael Baden to do a second autopsy, and we are expecting the results soon,” he continued. “I want to be clear that we are not a family of conspiracy theorists, and we want to believe that there was no foul play, just as the sheriff has stated publicly.”