In two separate but equally heartbreaking incidents, families in the American South are demanding answers after the deaths of their loved ones—one outside a Houston restaurant, the other in Mississippi under circumstances that have evoked painful echoes of the region’s past. Both cases have ignited questions about responsibility, transparency, and the lingering wounds of racial and social inequity.
On August 8, 2025, 34-year-old Jessie Mobley Jr. was found dead outside the KFFO Afro Steakhouse in west Houston. According to ABC13, Mobley had entered the restaurant the night before to eat, reportedly fell asleep, and became unresponsive. Restaurant staff, believing he was homeless, moved him outside. He was discovered dead the next morning.
Mobley’s family is adamant that his death was preventable. "Just one call. He would be here. I know he would," said his stepmother, Renee Mobley, in an interview with ABC13. The family says Mobley was not homeless; he was living with his aunt and was on medication. His father, Jessie Mobley Sr., expressed disbelief that staff did not notice his son’s prescription medicines. "If they would've looked at this bag and seen medicine, wouldn't they think, prescription medicines, wouldn't they think? Well, maybe he has a problem? Call somebody? They didn't do that," he told the station.
The Harris County medical examiner’s office has yet to determine the cause of death. Legal analyst Steve Shellist, speaking to ABC13, outlined the potential legal implications for the restaurant: "Their action of not calling 911 and just leaving him unattended outside have to have led to the death, had to have caused the death, to have civil liability on the part of the restaurant." The restaurant’s owner has refrained from making any official statement, awaiting the autopsy’s findings.
For Mobley’s family, the pain is compounded by memories of a man described as generous and loving. "He used to love to watch me cook. He loved to eat. He loved to watch me cook," Renee Mobley recalled. Jessie Mobley Sr. added, "If he had two dollars, he'd take a dollar and give it to somebody else. He would always do that." The family’s grief is now entwined with a sense of injustice, as they wait for answers that may never come.
Hundreds of miles away in Mississippi, another family is grappling with the sudden and shocking loss of a loved one. On September 15, 2025, Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a student at Delta State University, was found hanging from a tree. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office quickly ruled the death a suicide, but toxicology reports are pending and could take weeks.
According to USA Today, Reed’s family and a coalition of civil rights advocates were immediately troubled by the circumstances and the speed of the ruling. National civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump announced on September 19 that the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative would pay for an independent autopsy. However, that autopsy is on hold until Reed’s body is released by the state examiner.
“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,” read a press release from Crump’s office, as reported by Black Enterprise.
Reed’s death has mobilized not just his family, but also organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and political leaders. The SPLC has called for a thorough investigation into Reed’s death, as well as the death of Cory Zukatis, a white homeless man found hanging in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Bryan Fair, interim president and CEO of the SPLC, emphasized the broader implications: “We are deeply saddened by the recent tragedies where individuals were found hanging in Mississippi. One took the life of a young, Black man and the other of a man experiencing homelessness. Although one death has been ruled a suicide and another is undetermined, the tremendous outcry from the local community over concerns surrounding the loss of these two should not go unaddressed.”
Fair continued, “The imagery of these two deaths immediately evokes the collective consciousness of those who are deeply aware of Mississippi’s troubled past. These events remind us how inequity continues to endanger lives. By committing to a thorough investigation and providing transparency around these tragedies, local leaders and law enforcement can bring a deeper sense of peace and comfort during a time of tragedy.”
Mississippi’s historical context cannot be ignored. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) called for a federal investigation, stating, “We must leave no stone unturned in the search for answers. While the details of this case are still emerging, we cannot ignore Mississippi’s painful history of lynching and racial violence against African Americans.”
Reed’s peers at Delta State University have also voiced their desire for clarity and justice. Kolby Horace, a senior studying sports management, told NBC News, “I just want justice. I don’t know what it is, but I want the truth to come out. I just want to know what the real answer is.”
Benjamin Crump has been outspoken about the need for transparency and accountability. “Trey’s family deserves answers they can trust. We cannot accept rushed conclusions when the stakes are this high,” Crump said. He also highlighted the importance of transparency: “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.”
Both cases—one in Houston, the other in Mississippi—underscore the anguish that follows when families feel that institutions have failed them, whether through inaction, hasty conclusions, or a lack of empathy. In Houston, the Mobley family waits for the medical examiner’s report, holding onto memories of a son whose life, they believe, could have been saved with a simple call for help. In Mississippi, Reed’s family and supporters press for a full investigation, wary of the region’s history and determined to ensure that no detail is overlooked.
As communities demand accountability and compassion, these tragedies serve as reminders of the profound impact that institutional decisions and historical context can have on individuals and families. The search for truth and justice continues—for Jessie Mobley Jr., for Trey Reed, and for countless others whose stories might otherwise go unheard.
