CLEVELAND & VICKSBURG, Miss. — Two separate hanging deaths were reported in Mississippi on Monday, one on the campus of Delta State University and another in Vicksburg. Both cases remain under investigation.
Delta State University Incident
Around 7 a.m. Monday, the body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed, 21, a Black student at Delta State, was discovered hanging from a tree on campus.
Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals confirmed Reed had no lacerations, contusions, fractures, or other injuries that would suggest an assault. He said the incident occurred sometime Sunday but declined to classify the death as a suicide or a homicide.
“This is an ongoing death investigation,” Seals said, noting Reed’s body has been sent to the Mississippi State Crime Lab for an autopsy. Final results are expected to provide more clarity.
Vicksburg Incident
In a separate case, the body of Cory Zukatis, a white male from Brandon, was found hanging in a wooded area near the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace reported that Zukatis had been living in the wooded area where his body was found. He was reportedly homeless and struggling with drug use, details that were confirmed to the sheriff’s office by his mother.
Zukatis’ remains have also been sent to the State Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine cause and manner of death and to establish whether foul play was involved.
Ongoing Investigations
Both deaths remain under investigation by local authorities and the Mississippi State Crime Lab. Further information will be released once autopsy findings are complete.
