Authorities Probe Hanging Deaths in Mississippi, Call for Federal Review

Cleveland, MS (Sept. 17, 2025) - Mississippi authorities are investigating the death of a Black Delta State University student found hanging from a tree on campus and a second body discovered in Vicksburg, prompting calls for a federal inquiry and independent autopsies. The FBI and civil rights groups are monitoring both cases amid public outcry.

Nut Graf

The near-simultaneous discoveries of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, 21, on the DSU campus and 35-year-old Cory Zukatis off Washington Street in Vicksburg have reignited fears of racially motivated violence in a state with a fraught history of lynchings. Authorities maintain neither case shows signs of foul play, but skepticism online and by Reed’s family has driven demands for transparency.

Student Found Hanging at Delta State

  • Campus police discovered Reed’s body near the pickleball courts early Monday and immediately ruled out foul play.
  • Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. reported no bruises, fractures or evidence of an assault in a preliminary exam.
  • Civil rights attorney Ben Crump was retained by Reed’s family to lead an independent investigation and autopsy, insisting “vague conclusions” are unacceptable.
  • U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson urged the FBI to assist, citing the bureau’s resources for a “comprehensive and impartial” probe.

Second Body in Vicksburg

  • Warren County Coroner Doug L. Huskey confirmed Zukatis was found hanging in a wooded area near Ameristar Casino Monday afternoon, and the death is being treated as an investigation pending autopsy.
  • Vicksburg Police Chief Larry Burns expressed sympathy to Zukatis’s family and indicated the department is collecting evidence before determining manner of death.
  • Officials stress no link between the two incidents, though the eerie timing has fueled online speculation and comparisons to historic lynchings.

Public Response and Next Steps

Short-lived campus centennial events at DSU were suspended following Reed’s death, and hundreds held a prayer vigil in his memory. Both communities await full autopsy results. Authorities from local, state, and federal levels continue to coordinate, with the FBI on standby should evidence of a federal crime emerge.