On the morning of September 15, 2025, the quiet campus of Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, was shaken by the discovery of 21-year-old Demartravion "Trey" Reed, a Black student from Grenada, found hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts and student dormitories. What followed was a whirlwind of grief, speculation, and calls for transparency that have reverberated far beyond the university’s 2,700 students, drawing national attention and reopening painful chapters in Mississippi’s history.
Local authorities moved quickly. The Bolivar County Coroner’s Office, with help from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cleveland Police Department, began their investigation. By week’s end, both the Bolivar County Coroner, Murray Roark, and the Mississippi State Medical Examiner, Staci Turner, had ruled Reed’s death a suicide by hanging. Their preliminary report found no evidence of foul play, no broken bones, lacerations, or injuries consistent with an assault. "At this current time, we are conducting a thorough death investigation. 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," the coroner’s office stated on September 15, according to The Clarion Ledger.
Yet, as news of Reed’s death spread, so too did rumors—especially online. Social media posts quickly suggested Reed had been lynched, that he bore defensive wounds, or had broken legs and arms, making suicide impossible. These claims were denied by local officials, but the speculation only intensified. Mississippi, after all, has a dark legacy: more than 650 lynchings have been recorded in the state’s history, the highest number in the United States. This painful backdrop shaped the perceptions of many, fueling suspicions and memories that are never far from the surface.
Delta State University President Dan Ennis acknowledged the complexity of the moment during a press conference. “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,” Ennis said, as reported by Mississippi Public Broadcasting and NPR. The university also emphasized that there were no active threats to campus safety, with Police Chief Michael Peeler assuring the community, "Due to the support of the state and local law enforcement and the increased law enforcement presence here at Delta State, there are currently no active threats to the campus."
Governor Tate Reeves responded publicly on September 19, calling Reed’s death a tragedy and condemning the spread of misinformation. "I know a lot of speculation from people who have no facts or evidence has dominated online conversations and even some national mainstream media outlets in the immediate aftermath of this tragedy. That is also sad. It represents a sad state of affairs in today’s social media driven world…but it doesn’t represent today’s Mississippi!" Reeves posted on X.com. He also praised the hundreds of students—Black and white—who came together for a candlelight vigil on September 18, saying, "That is the Delta State I know. And that is the Mississippi I know."
Despite the official findings, Reed’s family has voiced deep doubts about the suicide ruling. They have retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and attorney Vanessa J. Jones, who have both called for greater transparency. Jones, during a press conference, demanded the release of all security camera footage related to Reed’s movements that night. "From the moment he left his dorm room or entered that campus, there should be surveillance of all of his actions…bring the surveillance, bring the cameras, so that we’ll know exactly what happened to Trey Reed," Jones said, according to NPR and The Clarion Ledger. The university responded that it could only share information with Reed’s emergency contacts, though it’s unclear who they are.
Ben Crump announced that the family would pursue an independent autopsy, funded by the Colin Kaepernick “Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative.” In a statement, Crump said, “Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths. Peace will come only by getting to the truth. We thank Colin Kaepernick for supporting this grieving family and the cause of justice and truth.” The family is waiting for Mississippi authorities to release Reed’s body so the independent autopsy can proceed.
Officials have emphasized the importance of patience and caution in interpreting the facts. Mississippi Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell told Mississippi Public Broadcasting that while he understands the historical context raising questions, it’s dangerous to rush to judgment. “We haven’t had a documented case of a lynching in decades. So when somebody jumps to that conclusion, I would believe that they’re just trying to get the clickbait and get you to come look at their stuff,” Tindell said. He added that spreading misinformation can create public safety risks, discourage witnesses from coming forward, and add trauma for families. "You have to be cognizant of the source of information when you see it online," Tindell cautioned. Still, he acknowledged that families have every right to seek independent autopsies, saying, "I would do the same in their position."
The case has also drawn calls for federal involvement. Representative Bennie Thompson urged the Department of Justice and FBI to open a civil rights investigation, citing the state’s history of racial violence. According to the state medical examiner’s office, all investigative files have now been turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review. The Southern Poverty Law Center has called for thorough investigations not only into Reed’s death but also into the death of Cory Zukatis, a 36-year-old white homeless man found hanging in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on the same day. Authorities have said they do not believe the two deaths are related, but the timing has fueled further speculation from advocacy groups.
The university and law enforcement continue to await final toxicology results, which are expected to take two to four weeks to complete. In the meantime, the campus community, Reed’s family, and the wider public remain in a state of uneasy anticipation, hoping for answers that can bring some measure of closure—or at least clarity—to a tragedy that has reopened old wounds and exposed new fractures.
As the investigation proceeds, the story of Trey Reed’s death stands as a stark reminder of how history, trust, and transparency continue to shape the present, especially in places where the past is always close at hand.
