On September 15, 2025, two men were discovered hanging from trees in separate parts of Mississippi—one on a college campus in Cleveland, the other in the woods near Vicksburg. Although authorities say the cases are not connected, the timing and manner of the deaths have sparked deep concern about race, history, and mental health in the state.
What Happened in Cleveland 🌳
Early Monday morning around 7:05 a.m., Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Black student from Grenada, Mississippi, was found hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts at Delta State University in Cleveland.
Campus police and the Bolivar County Coroner’s Office confirmed there were no signs of physical assault—no cuts, bruises, broken bones, or injuries consistent with an attack. Officials have not yet ruled on cause or manner of death, and the body was sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for a full autopsy.
Especially online, the public has reacted strongly. Some have alleged Reed was attacked or lynched—a notion countered by officials citing absence of trauma. But phrases like “Black people don’t lynch themselves” have been widely shared, reflecting skepticism that Reed’s death was suicide, especially given Mississippi’s legacy of racial violence. Reed’s father also posted online that his son had started fearing for his life before he died, deeply unsettling many who saw a lack of clarity from authorities
What Happened in Vicksburg 🌲
Just hours later, around 1:30 p.m. near Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, the body of Cory Zukatis (also spelled “Zutakis”), a white man in his mid-30s and reported to be homeless, was found hanging in a wooded area.
The Warren County Coroner said Zukatis had a history of drug use and homelessness, but authorities made no conclusions on whether the death was suicide or homicide. His body was also sent to the state crime lab for autopsy. Vicksburg police confirmed there is no link between this death and Reed’s case.
Online misinformation spread quickly—some claimed Zukatis was Black, or connected to broader conspiracies—but officials clarified these claims were false.
A Painful Coincidence đź’”
It is very sad that both of these deaths happened on the same day, with both men found in a similar way. This has brought up painful memories of Mississippi’s history of lynching, a form of racial violence used against Black Americans. Many people, especially online, have found it hard to believe that both deaths were suicides, given this history.
IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, THESE WERE NOT SUICIDES! THESE WERE MURDERS IN MISSISSIPPI! NO FOUL PLAY-NO SUCH THING! AND WE ALL KNOW THESE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IN THESE SMALL MISSISSIPPI TOWNS ARE CORRUPT!
