Early on the morning of September 15, 2025, the quiet campus of Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi was shaken by a discovery that would reverberate across the state and nation. Demartravion "Trey" Reed, a 21-year-old Black student from Grenada, was found hanging from a tree near the university's pickleball courts. The unsettling scene immediately evoked not only fear and sorrow, but also the painful echoes of Mississippi’s history of racial violence, stirring up deep emotions and calls for answers from all corners.
According to campus police, Reed’s body was discovered by a faculty member around 7 a.m. The Cleveland Police Department notified the Bolivar County Coroner’s Office shortly after, and by the end of the day, the university had canceled classes and events, allowing the community space to process and mourn. "I want to begin by acknowledging that the manner how Trey was discovered has stirred many emotions in this community and many emotions around the state and the nation," Delta State’s President Dan Ennis said at a press conference two days later, as reported by ABC News. "We recognize that this is not only about facts, it's about emotions, and it's about feelings and the way this loss and how it was discovered affects people's lives."
The incident’s timing and manner immediately led to speculation and concern, particularly on social media, about the possibility of a racially motivated crime. Mississippi, after all, is haunted by the memory of lynchings, most infamously the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, whose mutilated body was found in the Tallahatchie River not far from Delta State’s campus. President Ennis did not shy away from this context. Quoting author Richard Wright, he observed, "history comes on us, it surges up and it’s fused and tangled. And so, I acknowledge that this imagery is fused and tangled in people’s identities. Sometimes we can’t unknot it. We can’t untangle it, but here is one of the best places to start to pick at that knot, and to acknowledge that situation and build off of it."
Despite the emotional and historical weight, authorities were quick to share initial findings. Bolivar County Coroner Randolph “Rudy” Seals Jr. stated in a preliminary report that Reed had "no broken bones and did not appear to have been assaulted." The coroner’s office elaborated: "Based on the preliminary examination, we can confirm that the deceased did not suffer any lacerations, contusions, compound fractures, broken bones, or injuries consistent with an assault. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest the individual was physically attacked before his death." Chief Michael Peeler of the Delta State Police Department echoed these findings, stating, "at this time, there's no evidence of foul play."
Still, for Reed’s family and many watching, the official statements did little to calm the storm of questions. Vanessa Jones, the attorney for Reed’s family, emphasized their need for clarity: "He went back to Delta State University — and our question is what happened. We’re not going to point fingers at anybody. We’re not going to call anybody any names. All we want is answers." Reed, described by his uncle Rev. Jerry L. Reed as "joyful, happy and obedient," had only been at Delta State for a month, with dreams of becoming a truck driver and making his family proud.
As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement agencies including the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Cleveland Police, Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, and Delta State Police joined forces. Videos related to Reed’s death were turned over to investigators, though Chief Peeler would not disclose their content, citing the ongoing nature of the case. The FBI’s Jackson field office issued a statement noting it was "in regular contact with local authorities" and "prepared to investigate" if any evidence of a federal violation emerged.
Complicating matters, threats were made against the university in the wake of Reed’s death. President Ennis addressed these during his press conference: "We have students here. They came here to get an education, and folks who threaten the institution are hurting students, and we don't want that. We are supposed to be a place where students come to feel safe and to learn. That's our mission, and that's what we'll continue to do." Law enforcement presence on campus was increased, though Ennis later clarified, "At this point we don’t have any credible threats that I’m aware of and law enforcement will let me know. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt when someone calls the office and says that this is a terrible place, and that people should be hurt."
The broader community, including the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus and Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, called for transparency and a thorough investigation. Thompson, who spoke with Reed’s family, urged a full federal investigation, saying, "We must leave no stone unturned. Mississippi’s history of racial violence against African Americans cannot be ignored, and our community deserves both truth and accountability." The Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus echoed this sentiment, promising to "continue to ask questions of local officials and remain engaged as the investigation unfolds."
Reed’s family, determined to seek the truth, retained renowned civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump. Crump, known for his work on high-profile civil rights cases, announced he would lead an independent investigation and commission a separate autopsy. "We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain," Crump declared. "Trey's family deserves answers they can trust. We cannot accept rushed conclusions when the stakes are this high. By demanding the family be allowed to view any video and commissioning an independent autopsy, we are taking every step to uncover the truth about what happened to Trey."
Meanwhile, the campus community came together to mourn. On the night of September 15, students gathered for a prayer vigil in Reed’s honor. His aunt, Stacy Starling, addressed reporters briefly, asking for continued prayers and support. "We just ask that you continue to just to lift us up in your prayers. We thank you, and God bless each and every one of you," she said, before joining family and friends in a prayer circle.
In a parallel but unrelated incident, a second man, 35-year-old Cory Zukatis, was also found hanging from a tree in Vicksburg, Mississippi, about 100 miles south of Cleveland, on the same day Reed was discovered. Zukatis, who was white and reportedly homeless, had a history of drug use. Authorities have not established any connection between the two deaths, and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is not involved in the Zukatis case.
As the investigation into Trey Reed’s death continues, the university and its community remain on edge, grappling with the tragedy’s emotional, historical, and social implications. The results of the official autopsy, expected within days, may answer some questions, but for many, the search for truth and healing is only just beginning.
