Trey Reed: Autopsy results expected in death of Black Delta State student found hanging in tree
The investigation into the death of a 21-year-old Black student discovered hanging from a tree at Delta State University in Mississippi remains an "active investigation," officials said on Wednesday as the school's president acknowledged the incident has stoked tensions on campus and stirred up memories of the racist violence of the state's Jim Crow-era history.
The body of the student, identified as Demartravion "Trey" Reed, was discovered by a faculty member around 7 a.m. on Monday hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on the Cleveland, Mississippi, campus, according to the campus police department.
"I want to begin by acknowledging that the manner how Trey was discovered has stirred many emotions in this community and many emotions around the state and the nation," Delta State President Dan Ennis said at Wednesday's news conference.
The school is about 50 miles from the Tallahatchie River, where in 1955, authorities discovered the mutilated body of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black child, who was abducted by two white men after he was accused of whistling at a white woman.
Ennis said the school, which canceled classes on Monday, has received threats in the wake of Reed's death.
"In that regard, we have been very grateful that we have had increased law enforcement presence on this campus, and, unfortunately, that's because this campus has received threats, and my message to that regard would be, we have students here," Ennis said. "They came here to get an education, and folks who threaten the institution are hurting students, and we don't want that. We are supposed to be a place where students come to feel safe and to learn. That's our mission, and that's what we'll continue to do."
Ennis noted that a preliminary report released earlier this week by the Bolivar County Coroner's Office "indicates no evidence of foul play."
But Ennis, who is white, added, "We recognize that this is not only about facts, it's about emotions, and it's about feelings and the way this loss and how it was discovered affects people's lives. And I'll further say that I admit that I am not adequate to speak to the imagery that this incident raises. I acknowledge my weakness in that regard."
Meanwhile, officials confirmed to ABC News that a second man, identified as 35-year-old Cory Zukatis, who is white, was also discovered on Monday lifeless and hanging from a tree in Vicksburg, about 100 miles south of Cleveland, Mississippi.
Investigators have not said if any evidence has been uncovered connecting the two deaths.
The FBI field office in Jackson, Mississippi, released a statement on Wednesday, saying it is aware of the incident at Delta State and is "in regular contact with local authorities."
"If, during the course of the local investigation, information comes to light of a potential federal violation, the FBI is prepared to investigate," the FBI said in it's statement.
During Wednesday's news conference, Delta State Police Chief Michael Peeler said the investigation of Reed's death remains an "active investigation." On Monday, Peeler said at a news conference that "at this time, there's no evidence of foul play."
"Again, the statement was we didn't believe or have evidence of foul play," Peeler said on Wednesday, adding that he was the second officer to arrive on scene after getting the first report of a student hanging from a tree.
Peeler added that investigators are combing over video related to Reed's death, but he would not divulge what the footage contained.
"There are videos and they're in the hands of the investigation team," said Peeler.
The Bolivar County Coroner's Office released a statement on Monday, saying, "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," the Bolivar County Coroner's Office said in its statement.
Peeler said Reed's body has been taken to the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office and that a full autopsy is being conducted on Wednesday. He said the results of the autopsy are expected to be available in 24 to 48 hours.
The chief said he has asked the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to assist in the probe of Reed's death.
"The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is only assisting in the death investigation that occurred at Delta State University. Any information related to this incident will need to be released by the lead investigating agency," a spokesperson for the agency told ABC News on Wednesday.
Zukatis' body was discovered in a wooded area of the city known to be frequented by drug users, a representative with the Warren County Coroner's Office said. The coroner's office representative told ABC News that Zukatis was homeless and had allegedly been using drugs since the age of 14.
The medical examiner has yet to complete an autopsy on Zukatis, according to the representative.
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesperson told ABC News that the agency is not involved in the investigation of Zukatis' death.
During Wednesday's news conference at Delta State University, authorities made no mention of Zukatis' death.
Peeler was asked specifically about his statement on Monday saying no foul play had been discovered in Reed's death.
Peeler said that he went to the scene and observed Reed hanging from the tree, but citing the ongoing investigation would not elaborate.
Reed's family has retained national civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump to represent them.
Crump said he will undertake an independent investigation into Reed's death, including commissioning an independent autopsy "to verify the findings of the state medical examiner and ensure no question goes unanswered."
"We cannot accept vague conclusions when so many questions remain," Crump said in a statement. "I stand with this family, and I will lead a team of civil rights leaders and organizations in pursuing transparency and answers."
On Wednesday afternoon, Crump released a new statement, calling on police and university officials to release to the Reed family the video footage related to Reed's death that Peeler mentioned in the news conference.
"Trey's family deserves answers they can trust. We cannot accept rushed, conclusions when the stakes are this high," Crump said. "By demanding the family be allowed to view any video and commissioning an independent autopsy, we are taking every step to uncover the truth about what happened to Trey."
ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.
