[Rurudyne]

Even if it was a straight up noose it was a noose found in all garages, mostly occupied by white drivers.

[ClearCase_guy]

The key thing is that an actual noose is a slipknot -- it tightens when pulled.
If you want a garage door pull rope, you want a knot that doesn't slip.

I imagine that NASCAR folks also might do a fair amount of fishing. They might know the Kreh loop knot.

A photograph probably won't help to distinguish which is which. Without the actual object, there is no evidence at all that anything happened.

[A Navy Vet]

"Even if it was a straight up noose it was a noose found in all garages, mostly occupied by white drivers."

Good point, but they don't use slipknots for makeshift handles on their pull down ropes. Such knots would tighten on the fingers/hand and then have to be loosened manually which would negate the whole purpose of quick closing of the door.