ContrabandCamp

ContrabandCamp

Tell-It Report: A Bronx Mother Demands Answers After Her Teen Daughter Died In NYPD Custody

Police say Saniyah Cheatham, 18, hanged herself with her sweater in a holding cell, but her mother says she wasn’t wearing a sweater that day.

Taryn Finley's avatar
Taryn Finley
Jul 14, 2025
∙ Paid
43
2
10
Share
(Envato/ContrabandCamp)

In Gullah Geechee communities, a "tell-it" was a designated lookout, community warning system and the most trusted source for news and information. The Tell-It Report is ContrabandCamp’s weekly roundup of the Black stories that deserve more attention — from politics to entertainment.

The death of 18-year-old Saniyah Cheatham is bei…

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to ContrabandCamp to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
Taryn Finley's avatar
A guest post by
Taryn Finley
Taryn Finley is an award-winning journalist, host and producer who covers Black news, culture and community.
Subscribe to Taryn
© 2025 Michael Harriot
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture