Two Men Found Hanging in Mississippi, Authorities Investigate

Lead: Two men-a Black college student and a 36-year-old local resident-were found hanging from trees in separate Mississippi locations on Monday, prompting multi‐agency investigations into their deaths.

Nut Graf: The discoveries at Delta State University in Cleveland and near Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg have reignited fears of racially motivated violence in a state with a long history of lynching, even as officials report no immediate signs of foul play and await autopsy results.

Campus Tragedy at Delta State University

  • Demartravion “Trey” Reed, 21, was discovered by a staff member at 7:05 a.m. near the campus pickleball courts.
  • Delta State Police Chief Michael Peeler said there were no visible injuries or evidence of assault, and classes were suspended for the day.
  • The Bolivar County coroner confirmed preliminary examinations showed no lacerations, contusions or fractures consistent with an attack.
  • The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and local law enforcement agencies are assisting in the probe.

Second Incident in Vicksburg

  • Hours later, the body of 36-year-old Cory Zukatis was found hanging from a tree in wooded land near the Ameristar Casino.
  • Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey identified Zukatis and noted no immediate indications of trauma beyond the hanging.
  • Both Reed’s and Zukatis’s remains were sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsies.

Public Outcry and Historical Context

  • Social media users invoked Mississippi’s Jim Crow-era terror, demanding transparency and justice, with calls to treat the cases as potential hate crimes.
  • Delta State President Dan Ennis expressed sorrow, emphasizing ongoing cooperation with investigators and offering support services to students.
  • The proximity of the campus to Emmett Till’s lynching site has deepened community anxieties about racial violence.

What’s Next

  • Officials have stressed that there is currently “no evidence of foul play” but caution all conclusions are pending toxicology and autopsy findings.
  • Families and civil rights groups are expected to press for thorough, independent reviews of both deaths.
  • Law enforcement agencies have urged anyone with information to come forward immediately.

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