Shock and sorrow have swept across Mississippi as two men—one Black, one white—were discovered dead, hanging from trees in separate towns just hours apart on September 15, 2025. The deaths of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old student at Delta State University, and Cory Zukatis, a 35-year-old homeless man from Brandon, have not only devastated their respective communities but also reignited painful conversations about the state’s history, racial violence, and the need for transparency in death investigations.
Reed’s body was found early Monday morning near the pickleball courts and Court of Governors dormitories on the Delta State campus in Cleveland, Mississippi. The discovery came during the university’s centennial celebration week, casting a pall over what was meant to be a festive occasion. According to The Clarion Ledger, Delta State University Police Chief Michael L. Peeler was notified of the grim scene at 7:05 a.m., and the Bolivar County Coroner’s Office arrived at 8:08 a.m. The university responded by canceling classes and several centennial events that day, and immediately began offering counseling and peer support services to students and staff. “Our community is deeply saddened by their loss. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends impacted,” Delta State University said in a statement, as reported by UPI.
Just a few hours later and roughly 100 miles away, Zukatis’s body was discovered in a wooded area off Washington Street near the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg. Warren County Coroner Doug L. Huskey confirmed to the Mississippi Free Press that Zukatis was homeless and had been living in the woods near where he was found. The Vicksburg Police Department, led by Chief Larry Burns, said the matter is being handled as a death investigation and that the victim’s family has been notified. “As with any ongoing investigation, details are limited at this time. Once additional information becomes available and can be released to the public, the Vicksburg Police Department will provide an update,” Burns stated.
While both deaths are being investigated, authorities have thus far treated Reed’s as a suicide. In a news conference, Chief Peeler said, “But while there is no evidence of foul play, the body has been retrieved by the Bolivar County Coroner’s office. I have requested the assistance of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s office and the Cleveland PD to assist us in this ongoing investigation.” The coroner’s office echoed this assessment, stating, “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.”
Nevertheless, the timing and imagery of two hangings—especially in a state with a long and painful history of racist lynchings—have fueled widespread speculation and concern. Social media erupted with rumors, some falsely claiming Reed had suffered broken legs and other injuries that would have made suicide impossible. The Bolivar County Coroner’s office responded directly to these rumors, firmly stating that there were no injuries consistent with an assault. Despite this, skepticism remains in some quarters, especially among civil rights advocates and Reed’s own community.
Cliff Thomas, president of the Monroe-Ouachita Parish NAACP, voiced unease about the speed with which authorities ruled out foul play. “There was a young black man found hung in Mississippi, and the law enforcement head immediately declared there was no foul play,” Thomas told KNOE. “A determination made before any conclusion was made as to the autopsy results.” He urged that “love for one another has to be the pivotal end to any difference anyone may have. That’s what the world needs now.”
Calls for greater scrutiny have reached the federal level. U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., called for the Department of Justice and FBI to launch an investigation into what he described as Reed’s “suspicious death.” In his statement, Thompson emphasized, “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.” Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who has been retained by Reed’s family, echoed these sentiments, posting on X, “We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain. I stand with this family, and I will lead a team of civil rights leaders and organizations in pursuing transparency and answers for Trey’s family.”
For many at Delta State University, Reed’s death has been especially traumatic. Stacie Hoskins, a Black student at the university, told 16 WAPT, “It really makes me feel unsafe.” The university has responded by providing mental health resources, peer support at the H.L. Nowell Student Union, and spaces for prayer and meditation at Lena Sillers Chapel. The administration has not yet announced when or if the postponed centennial events will be rescheduled.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Zukatis’s death remains open and ongoing. Warren County officials have refrained from speculating on the cause of death until the results of the state crime lab’s autopsy are available. “We don’t ever say suicide or anything until the autopsy is over with. Right now, it’s just an investigation,” Coroner Huskey told the Mississippi Free Press. Social media has further muddied the waters, with misidentified photos of Zukatis circulating online. The coroner clarified that none of the images widely shared belong to the Cory Zukatis who died in Mississippi. Police in Vicksburg have stated they do not believe the two deaths are related, a position supported by the current evidence.
The charged political climate, particularly following the recent assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, and the state’s fraught legacy of racial violence, have only heightened tensions and public scrutiny. Social media has been awash in speculation, some of it inaccurate, as both communities struggle to process the tragedies. Authorities have repeatedly urged patience as investigations proceed and autopsy results are awaited for both men.
Reed’s family, meanwhile, has remembered him as a “quiet light.” In a statement to 16 WAPT, they said, “Trey was our little quiet light. He was sweet, well mannered, and would give you the world if he could. We ask that you continue to keep our family in your prayers as we continue to navigate through these unforeseen times.”
As the investigations continue, the families of both men, their communities, and indeed the state of Mississippi are left searching for answers—and for healing in the midst of heartbreak and suspicion.
