The family of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a Black student found hanging from a tree at Delta State University in Mississippi, has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump as questions mount over his death. Staff discovered Reed’s body near campus pickleball courts on Monday. Police Chief Michael Peeler stated that Reed appeared to have died by suicide with no signs of foul play, but the family and community have expressed concerns.
Crump announced that his team would conduct an independent investigation and seek an independent autopsy. “Trey was a young man full of promise and warmth, deeply loved and respected by all who knew him. His family and the campus community deserve a full, independent investigation to uncover the truth about what happened,” Crump said in a statement.
Mississippi Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson has called for the FBI to investigate, citing the agency’s tools and experience for a thorough inquiry. The FBI confirmed it was aware of the case and prepared to investigate if evidence of a federal violation emerged.
The case has drawn attention online and evoked memories of Mississippi’s history of racist violence, including the lynching of Emmett Till in 1955. The Bolivar County coroner, Randolph Seals Jr, disputed rumours of broken limbs, stating that a preliminary examination found no injuries consistent with an assault. The NAACP expressed skepticism, noting that “our people have not historically hung ourselves from trees.”
Delta State President Dan Ennis said the university was cooperating with investigators and hoping for answers. Classes were cancelled on Monday, along with events for the university’s 100th anniversary.
