Cleveland, Mississippi, September 16, 2025 –
Mississippi is gripped by grief and suspicion following two eerily similar discoveries on Monday: two men, found just hours apart, hanging from trees in separate parts of the state. One was a 21-year-old Black college student on a university campus; the other, a 36-year-old homeless man in a wooded area near a casino. While authorities insist there’s no evidence of foul play, the circumstances – evoking the state’s dark history of racial violence – have ignited nationwide outrage, social media storms, and urgent demands for thorough investigations.
The incidents unfolded against the backdrop of Delta State University’s centennial celebrations, which were abruptly canceled, amplifying the shockwaves through communities already scarred by past injustices.
The First Discovery: A Campus Shattered
At approximately 7:05 a.m. on September 15, campus police at Delta State University in Cleveland responded to a report of an unresponsive individual near the pickleball courts and Court of Governors dormitories.
There, they found the body of 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a Black student, hanging from a tree. Reed, a junior majoring in criminal justice, was described by friends as outgoing and ambitious, with dreams of law enforcement.University Police Chief Michael L. Peeler addressed the media in a somber press conference, stating, “At this time, there is no evidence of foul play.” The Bolivar County Coroner’s Office echoed this, noting that Reed’s body was recovered and transported to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for autopsy.
Deputy Coroner Murray Roark later clarified rumors circulating online, confirming “no broken limbs” or other injuries inconsistent with suicide, emphasizing, “Reed’s death was self-done, and I have reasons for that.”The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Bolivar County Sheriff’s Department, and Cleveland Police are assisting, but the university’s swift classification as suicide has drawn sharp criticism. Delta State President Dan Ennis expressed condolences, saying, “Our hearts are broken for Trey’s family and friends,” while canceling all centennial events.
Hours Later: A Second Hanging in Vicksburg
Roughly three hours after Reed’s body was discovered – around 10:30 a.m. – Vicksburg police were alerted to a wooded area near the Ameristar Casino. There, they found 36-year-old Corey Zukatis, a homeless man from Brandon, Mississippi, hanging from a tree. Warren County Coroner Doug L. Huskey identified Zukatis, noting the investigation remains ongoing with no initial signs of foul play.
His body was also sent to the state crime lab for autopsy.Little is publicly known about Zukatis’s final days, though reports describe him as unhoused and struggling with personal demons. Authorities have not released a cause of death, and police maintain the cases are unrelated. Vicksburg officials urged the public to avoid speculation, but the proximity in time and method has fueled connections in the public eye.
Echoes of History: Why This Hits So Hard
The image of bodies hanging from trees in Mississippi – a state synonymous with lynchings during the Jim Crow era – is profoundly triggering. From 1882 to 1968, over 650 documented lynchings occurred in the state, disproportionately targeting Black men.
Social media erupted with comparisons, one X user posting: “Two young people lynched in Mississippi. Where is the fury?” Another lamented, “Hanging seems unusual this day and age, especially a public hanging.”While Reed was Black and Zukatis white, the coincidence has reignited debates on mental health, racial bias in policing, and systemic failures. Advocates like the NAACP Mississippi chapter called for independent reviews, stating, “Coincidences like this demand scrutiny, not dismissal.” Rumors of Reed’s “broken legs” – debunked by the coroner – spread rapidly, underscoring the mistrust amplified by social media.On Reddit’s r/centrist, discussions pivoted to men’s mental health, with users noting, “This should be a men’s mental health themed post,” while questioning the suicide narrative: “The investigation isn’t even concluded yet.”
Official Response and Community Mourning
Both investigations are active, with autopsies pending. Delta State has offered counseling services, and a vigil for Reed is planned for Wednesday. Zukatis’s family, reached briefly, requested privacy amid the media frenzy.Governor Tate Reeves issued a statement: “These losses are heartbreaking. We stand with the families and trust our law enforcement to uncover the full truth.” Yet, as one local activist told NewsOne, “Trust is earned, not assumed – especially here.”Experts highlight a surge in suicides amid post-pandemic stressors, but the optics remain damning. Cybersecurity firm reports? No – this is human fragility exposed.
A Call to Action: Beyond the Trees
These tragedies, whether suicides or something sinister, expose raw nerves in American society: mental health crises, homelessness, and the lingering shadow of racism. As Mississippi grapples, the nation watches – and waits for answers.
What do you think? Are these isolated sorrows, or signals of deeper pain? Share thoughtfully below.
Comments