Two men were found dead on Sept. 14 in separate incidents in Mississippi, both discovered hanging from trees, authorities said.
Around 7 a.m., Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a student at Delta State University, was found dead on campus behind the pickleball courts near the Court of Governors dormitories, according to the Bolivar County coroner’s office. The office reported no evidence of foul play.
Delta State University Police Chief Michael L. Peeler said Reed’s death was ruled a suicide.
At about 1:30 p.m. the same day, the body of Cory Zukatis, a homeless man, was found in a wooded area in Vicksburg, roughly 100 miles from Cleveland, authorities said. The two cases are not believed to be connected.
The discoveries prompted calls for further investigation. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., wrote on social media that “the FBI has the tools and the experience necessary to conduct a thorough and unbiased inquiry, and time is of the essence.”
Some students from the Atlanta University Center Consortium, including Mississippi natives, expressed skepticism about Reed’s death given the state’s racial history.
Between 1882 and 1968, the state recorded 581 lynchings, the highest number in the country, according to the NAACP.
“It is strange of the police to cover it up but not unusual,” said Talyric Bryant, a student from Mississippi.
Another student, who requested anonymity, said, “This was no suicide or accident. This was done as a statement in support of white supremacy.”
Authorities have not linked Reed’s death to racial violence.
