A Black student found hanging from a tree on the campus of Delta State University died by suicide, according to the state medical examiner.
The Cleveland Police Department released an update Thursday afternoon – three days after the body of Demartravion “Trey” Reed was discovered by a university staffer on Monday morning – and said the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office had turned over the autopsy results.
“Findings were consistent with the initial investigation, determining the cause of death to be hanging and the manner of death as suicide,” a news release from the Cleveland Police Department reads. “Final toxicology results are pending and may take two to four weeks to complete.”
The death of Reed, 21, has raised questions and sparked speculation in a state with a history of racist violence, despite campus police, other local and state law enforcement agencies investigating, and the coroner saying foul play was not believed to be involved in his death.
Reed’s family has hired nationally recognized civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who said before the state’s autopsy results were released that the family will be ordering an independent autopsy to “uncover the truth about what happened.”
Sean Tindell, commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said Thursday his office has turned over all files and investigative materials to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, who represents the area of Mississippi the school is located in, previously called for a federal investigation into Reed’s death.
“My condolences go out to the family of Trey Reed and all who knew and loved him,” Tindell said. “I also applaud the quick work by the Cleveland Police Department, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, and Delta State University to bring closure to his family, and I condemn the rumors circulating regarding his death.”
While the investigation into Reed’s death remains active, Cleveland Police Chief Travis Tribble reiterated his and other investigators’ belief that Reed’s cause of death is a suicide and urged anyone struggling to reach out for help before taking their own life.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Reed’s family and friends during this very difficult time. We want to encourage anyone who is struggling to reach out for help,” Tribble said.
