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- A Delta State University student, Demartravion “Trey” Reed, was found deceased on campus.
- The Bolivar County Coroner has ruled the 21-year-old Black man’s death a suicide by hanging.
- University and law enforcement officials have stated there is no evidence of foul play.
- The coroner’s office refuted social media rumors, stating there were no signs of assault or broken bones.
- University President Dan Ennis acknowledged the community’s grief and asked for patience as the investigation continues.
Delta State University President Dan Ennis recorded a video Tuesday, September 16 to talk more about the hanging death of student Demartravion “Trey” Reed.
Reed was found hanging from a tree on campus on Monday, Sept. 15. The Bolivar County Coroner has ruled the death to be suicide of the Black man from Grenada.
It was one of two hangings in Mississippi on Sept. 15.
In the Delta State video, Ennis talks much about understanding that the grieving process is ongoing for much of the students, faculty and staff of the 2,700-student university in Cleveland in the Mississippi Delta.
“We know that none of us will ever fully heal this wound, but we have to go on and go one as best as we can,” Ennis said in the video. “We ask for your continued prayers, support and we ask for your patience.”
He went on to say that the university is continuing to work with authorities in regard to information surrounding the death of Reed.
“We continue to hope for answers,” Ennis said. “We are aware of the recent coroner’s report and we are aware of other developments in the investigation as is the family.”
Ennis did not say what those developments might be.
What happened to Trey Reed?
The Bolivar County Coroner’s office released a statement late on Sept. 15 in response to the death of Reed.
Ennis said that, despite the details of a hanging of a 21-year-old Black man in the Mississippi Delta, there no evidence of foul play involved.
The Bolivar County Coroner’s office had not returned calls to the Clarion Ledger earlier Monday but released a statement after internet social media accounts arose surrounding the facts of the case. Many social media posts circulated that Reed had two broken legs and other injuries that would have prevented him from hanging himself.
“At 7:32 a.m., the Bolivar County Coroner’s office was notified by the Cleveland Police Department regarding an unresponsive individual on the campus of Delta State University. At 8:08 a.m., representatives from the coroner’s office arrived on the scene and observed and unresponsive subject hanging from a tree,” the statement reads. “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.”
According to the coroner, Reed’s body was to be transported to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for an autopsy.
What did Delta State police say about hanging?
Delta State University police chief Michael L. Peeler said during a press conference that Reed committed suicide, and there was no evidence of foul play involved.
The death happened during the university’s scheduled centennial celebrations, forcing the events to be canceled.
The body was found hanging in a tree in the middle of campus behind pickleball courts near the Court of Governors dormitories.
Ross Reily is a writer for the Clarion Ledger, part of the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1.
