The death of a 21-year-old Black student whose body was found hanging from a tree on a university campus in Mississippi has sparked outrage and allegations online. The student has been identified as Demartravion “Trey” Reed and he was found hanging on a tree at the Delta State University. While social media is abuzz with rumours that Trey Reed had two broken legs and additional injuries and would have made it impossible for him to hang himself.
However, Delta State’s Director of Public Safety Mike Peeler said there is no evidence of foul play in connection with Reed’s death, according to a statement from university officials. He also claimed there is no ongoing threat to campus safety.
Based on their preliminary examination, the Bolivar County Coroner's Office (BCCO) said that Reed “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 BCCO said.
ALSO READ: Trey Reed death: From dorm room mystery to lynching claims, what really happened at Delta State University?
While police said there was no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide, classes and events scheduled for the school's centennial celebrations were canceled for the day. Following the incident, rumors circulated online questioning the circumstances surrounding Reed's death, which were disputed by Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. During a news conference on Sept. 16, attorney Vanessa J. Jones said her firm is representing Reed's family and is initiating its own investigation into his death, beginning with an independent autopsy.
"We want answers, and we're going to launch our own independent investigation to get those answers," Vanessa J. Jones, an attorney representing Reed's family, said during a press conference on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Trey Reed was locked up at Delta State University campus, faced racial violence? Details emerge after student's death
"We will seek answers independently from Delta State University and from the coroner's office, and if need be, independent from the state coroner's office, because we need answers as to what happened to Trey Reed."
The death case of Trey Reed has drawn widespread attention, skepticism and calls for transparency. It has also evoked Mississippi's history of Jim Crow-era racist violence. The university campus in Cleveland is about 30 miles from a site closely associated with the infamous lynching of Emmett Till.
Speaking with ABC affiliate WAPT, Reed's grandfather J.B. Reed said the comment was made by a member of the Bolivar County Sheriff's Department and that "he didn't even say possible suicide, he said suicide."
ALSO READ: Trey Reed and Corey Zukatis: Two men found hanging in Mississippi on same day, suspicious deaths stun state
When asked about the discrepancy about where Reed's body was found at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 17, Delta State’s Director of Public Safety Mike Peeler said he did not have knowledge of any calls Reed's grandfather received.
Jonas has called for university officials to release any surveillance footage they have that might shed light on Reed's death.
"The family does not know exactly what happened on Sept. 15, 2025," Jones said, according to WAPT. "We are seeking answers."
"If this young man was on the campus of Delta State University with all these cameras and all this modern technology, from the moment he left his dorm room or entered the campus, there should be surveillance of all his actions,” Jones added, per the Mississippi Free Press. “That’s what we want.”
During Wednesday's press conference, Peeler confirmed that "there are videos and they’re in the hands of the investigative team."
ALSO READ: Tyler Robinson's father donated '$1.5 million reward' to Charlie Kirk's family? What we know
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced on Tuesday that he has been retained by Reed's family and will undertake an independent investigation into the student's death. "We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain," he said in a statement.
Attorney Vanessa J. Jones said Reed was a "joyful," "full of life" and "eager" to be at the university. She said: "Were there cameras? There should have been cameras at the university that could easily enlighten us as to what happened in the early morning of September 15, 2025."
She added the family is "not going to point fingers at anybody. We're not going to call anybody names. All we want is answers from technology."
Add Now!
However, Delta State’s Director of Public Safety Mike Peeler said there is no evidence of foul play in connection with Reed’s death, according to a statement from university officials. He also claimed there is no ongoing threat to campus safety.
Based on their preliminary examination, the Bolivar County Coroner's Office (BCCO) said that Reed “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 BCCO said.
ALSO READ: Trey Reed death: From dorm room mystery to lynching claims, what really happened at Delta State University?
Trey Reed's family demands independent autopsy
Trey Reed's family has called for transparency in the death investigation after recent statements in the case sparked anger and skepticism on social media. Reed's body was found hanging from a tree in the middle of Delta State University's campus behind pickleball courts at around 7:05 a.m. local time on Sept. 15, according to university police.While police said there was no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide, classes and events scheduled for the school's centennial celebrations were canceled for the day. Following the incident, rumors circulated online questioning the circumstances surrounding Reed's death, which were disputed by Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. During a news conference on Sept. 16, attorney Vanessa J. Jones said her firm is representing Reed's family and is initiating its own investigation into his death, beginning with an independent autopsy.
"We want answers, and we're going to launch our own independent investigation to get those answers," Vanessa J. Jones, an attorney representing Reed's family, said during a press conference on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: Trey Reed was locked up at Delta State University campus, faced racial violence? Details emerge after student's death
"We will seek answers independently from Delta State University and from the coroner's office, and if need be, independent from the state coroner's office, because we need answers as to what happened to Trey Reed."
The death case of Trey Reed has drawn widespread attention, skepticism and calls for transparency. It has also evoked Mississippi's history of Jim Crow-era racist violence. The university campus in Cleveland is about 30 miles from a site closely associated with the infamous lynching of Emmett Till.
What is Trey Reed's lawyer claiming?
Lawyers for the family of Demartravion “Trey” Reed claim police initially told the victim’s family that he died in his dorm room. Vanessa J. Jones, an attorney representing Reed’s family, said the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department “informed the family that Trey was found dead in his dorm room, in his bed,” according to the Mississippi Free Press.Speaking with ABC affiliate WAPT, Reed's grandfather J.B. Reed said the comment was made by a member of the Bolivar County Sheriff's Department and that "he didn't even say possible suicide, he said suicide."
ALSO READ: Trey Reed and Corey Zukatis: Two men found hanging in Mississippi on same day, suspicious deaths stun state
When asked about the discrepancy about where Reed's body was found at a press conference on Wednesday, Sept. 17, Delta State’s Director of Public Safety Mike Peeler said he did not have knowledge of any calls Reed's grandfather received.
Jonas has called for university officials to release any surveillance footage they have that might shed light on Reed's death.
"The family does not know exactly what happened on Sept. 15, 2025," Jones said, according to WAPT. "We are seeking answers."
"If this young man was on the campus of Delta State University with all these cameras and all this modern technology, from the moment he left his dorm room or entered the campus, there should be surveillance of all his actions,” Jones added, per the Mississippi Free Press. “That’s what we want.”
During Wednesday's press conference, Peeler confirmed that "there are videos and they’re in the hands of the investigative team."
ALSO READ: Tyler Robinson's father donated '$1.5 million reward' to Charlie Kirk's family? What we know
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced on Tuesday that he has been retained by Reed's family and will undertake an independent investigation into the student's death. "We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain," he said in a statement.
Attorney Vanessa J. Jones said Reed was a "joyful," "full of life" and "eager" to be at the university. She said: "Were there cameras? There should have been cameras at the university that could easily enlighten us as to what happened in the early morning of September 15, 2025."
She added the family is "not going to point fingers at anybody. We're not going to call anybody names. All we want is answers from technology."
Add 
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source
as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
