When the news broke about Demartravion “Trey” Reed, it felt like the air got sucked out of Mississippi. Honestly, it’s one of those cases that sticks in your throat because of the location and the imagery. A 21-year-old Black student, full of promise, found hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts at Delta State University. It happened early on the morning of September 15, 2025.
People immediately started talking. You’ve seen the TikToks and the frantic tweets—rumors about broken legs, a violent struggle, and the terrifying shadow of Mississippi’s history. But the official trey reed autopsy results tell a very specific, and much different, story than the social media firestorm suggested.
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The Official Word from the Medical Examiner
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office didn't take long to release their findings. On September 18, 2025, just days after Trey was found, the Cleveland Police Department went public with the results. The official cause of death? Hanging. The manner of death? Suicide.
Chief Medical Examiner Staci Turner and the Bolivar County Coroner, Randolph Seals Jr., both looked at the evidence and came to the same conclusion. They reported that there were zero lacerations, no contusions, and definitely no compound fractures or broken bones. This was a direct strike against the rumors flying around that his limbs had been shattered before he died. Basically, the medical team found no physical evidence that Trey had been attacked or involved in a fight.
Why the Skepticism Won't Quit
If the medical report is so clear, why is everyone still arguing? It’s complicated.
For one, there was some serious confusion right at the start. Trey’s family, represented by attorney Vanessa Jones, claimed they were initially told by the Grenada County Sheriff’s Department that Trey was found dead in his dorm room. When it turned out he was actually found on campus, hanging from a tree, that discrepancy blew a massive hole in the family's trust. You can't really blame them for being suspicious after a start like that.
Then there is the historical weight. Mississippi has recorded over 650 lynchings—the highest in the country. When a Black man is found in a tree, "suicide" is a word that many in the community simply aren't ready to accept without an enormous amount of proof.
- The NAACP released a statement saying they were skeptical despite the "no foul play" finding.
- Congressman Bennie Thompson called for a full federal investigation involving the FBI.
- The family brought in heavy hitter Ben Crump to demand more transparency.
The Second Autopsy and Colin Kaepernick
Because the family didn't trust the state's findings, they did what any grieving family in a high-profile case does: they asked for a second opinion. This is where Colin Kaepernick stepped in. His "Know Your Rights Camp" Autopsy Initiative actually paid for a second, independent autopsy.
Dr. Matthias I. Okoye, a forensic pathologist from Nebraska, was the one to fly in and do the work. He finished his examination right before Trey’s funeral on September 27, 2025. As of late 2025 and into early 2026, those specific results haven't been fully blasted out to the public in a final report, though early indications from the legal team suggest they are still looking for answers that the state might have missed.
The Cleveland Police haven't just sat on their hands, though. They turned over all their files to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI. There’s also video footage. Delta State’s Police Chief Mike Peeler mentioned there is surveillance video from the area where Trey was found, but they haven't released it to the public yet.
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What the Investigation Looks Like Now
The case isn't "closed" in the eyes of the public, even if the medical examiner has stamped a folder. We are looking at a situation where the official trey reed autopsy results are being weighed against a lack of video transparency and a deep-seated distrust of local systems.
The toxicology reports were expected to take a few weeks to a month. Those are key because they tell us if there were any substances in his system that could have influenced his state of mind or made it impossible for him to defend himself if someone else was there.
- Official Cause: Hanging / Suicide.
- Family Stance: Contesting the results, citing initial misinformation.
- Status: Federal review by the FBI and U.S. Attorney is ongoing.
- Evidence: Surveillance video exists but remains under wraps.
It's a heavy situation. You have a university trying to move forward, a family that is absolutely devastated, and a community that feels like they've seen this movie before.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you are following this case, don't just rely on the latest TikTok trend. Things move fast and rumors get mangled.
- Check the Source: Look for updates directly from the Mississippi Free Press or local news outlets like WAPT that have boots on the ground in Cleveland and Grenada.
- Wait for the Independent Report: The findings from Dr. Okoye will be the definitive "second opinion." Until Ben Crump's office releases that final document, everything else is just talk.
- Request Transparency: If you’re a student or community member, pushing for the release of the campus surveillance footage is the primary goal for the family’s legal team.
- Mental Health Awareness: The university has emphasized that if students are struggling, they need to use the counseling services available. It's a reminder that even when things look okay on the surface, they often aren't.
The trey reed autopsy results gave us a clinical answer, but they haven't given the family peace. Until the video is seen and the independent report is filed, the conversation around Delta State isn't going anywhere.