A medical examiner has ruled the death of Delta State student Trey Reed a suicide after he was found hanging from a tree at the campus, located in Cleveland, Mississippi.
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Delta State Student Trey Reed’s Family Demands Independent Autopsy After Conflicting Reports, Finally Told Body Was Found Hanging From Tree
As we previously shared, the 21-year-old Delta State University student, born Demartravion Reed, was found hanging from a tree in the middle of campus on Monday (September 15). The tree was behind the pickleball courts near the Court of Governors dormitories. On Tuesday (September 16), Reed’s family, based in Grenada County, held a press conference with their attorney, Vanessa J. Jones of the Jones Law Firm.
The family held the conference at Living Faith Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ in Grenada. There, Jones confirmed that the family demanded an independent autopsy. Jones said, “The family does not know exactly what happened on September the 15th of 2025. We are seeking answers from Delta State University. We’re seeking answers from the coroner’s office.”
The family’s request follows conflicting reports received about Reed’s death. Jones claimed that law enforcement came to their home early Tuesday morning. Jones said, “The Grenada County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) arrived at Trey’s family’s home … at approximately 9:15 and informed the family that Trey was found dead in his dorm room, in his bed.”
Hours later, Reed’s family learned that was not true. Instead, the Delta State University student was found hanging from a tree in the heart of the campus at 7:05 a.m. Due to the conflicting reports, Reed’s family began to question the police and how they could have been so misinformed.
Jones explained, “The media knew about Trey’s death before the family did.” She added, “That’s one of the reasons for the urgency of this press conference, because the family is getting all of their information secondhand through the news.”
Medical Examiner Rules Delta State University Student Trey Reed’s Death A Suicide After Body Found Hanging From Tree
Following the discovery of Trey Reed’s body, Delta State University Police Chief Mike Peeler told news outlets that there were no immediate signs of foul play. Officials from the Bolivar County Coroner’s Office supported the claim. They added that there were no visible injuries that suggested an attack before the hanging. The Bolivar County Coroner’s official statement read:
“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.
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.”
Jones said the updates only left Reed’s family demanding more answers. Ultimately, the family asked the university for all relevant video footage from that morning. Jones said:
“If this young man was on the campus of Delta State University with all these cameras and all this modern technology, from the moment he left his dorm room or entered the campus, there should be surveillance of all his actions. That’s what we want. Bring the surveillance, bring the cameras so that we’ll know exactly what happened.”
The campus has recognized the request and presence of video in the investigation. However, university officials have not yet released the video at the time of publication.
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On Thursday (September 18), reports broke that a medical examiner ruled Trey Reed’s death a suicide. According to Jackson, Mississippi’s Clarion Ledger, the state medical examiner’s office released a statement that read:
“Findings were consistent with the initial investigation, determining the cause of death to be hanging and the manner of death as suicide. Final toxicology results are pending and may take two to four weeks to complete.
As part of the investigation, all files and investigative material have been turned over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and The US Attorney Office for review and we have been in contact with them the entire time of this investigation.”
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