A devastating loss among young students in Mississippi has ignited discussions, worries, and demands for accountability.
In late September, Demartre Travis Reed, aged twenty-one, took his own life by hanging himself near Delta State University’s grounds;
however, investigators remain uncertain about the exact cause of his demise and continue their search for clarification regarding how this tragic event unfolded within the Reed household and broader community context.
Initially classified as a suicide by officials, Reed’s relatives have conducted their own post-mortem examination, sparking fresh inquiries into the circumstances surrounding his death.
At age twenty-one on September fifteenth, Demartray Reed, an enrolled college freshman studying at Delta State University’s main grounds, tragically took his own life by hanging himself from a nearby tree. Despite initial police classification as a suicide by hanging, Reed’s relatives insisted on further investigation. A private medical examination was requested independently of state authorities; it appears to have been financed through funds provided by retired American football player Colin Kaepernick, as reported in Mississippi Today news outlet.
A thorough autopsy conducted by officials at both the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s office and the Bolivar County Coroner’s office revealed no signs of murder attempts. The final toxicity assessment took place on September 26 but remains undisclosed until it is made public.
The Reed clan felt aggrieved at having their son’s passing disclosed in public without prior notification. The lawyer further asserted that officials incorrectly informed the relatives that Reed was deceased on their college floor.
The Alabama advocate Jeremy Marquell Bridges informed Mississippi Today that he had communicated with Reed’s relatives and their civil rights lawyer, Benjamin Crump, who represents them. Reports indicate Crump might be aiding in creating an event reconstruction for an ongoing inquiry into independence issues.
Bridges asserts that an independent investigation revealed evidence suggesting that Reed sustained injuries during a recent physical confrontation among white male peers. No specifics about the assault have been disclosed, and no mention was made of those wounds during the formal post-mortem examination. He further stated that the leather stud attached to his prison outfit was gone and that Reed had stepped forward to shield an African American girl victim of assault.
Additional worries arose regarding when Reed’s body parts would be delivered so they could undergo an external examination by experts in private. The claim is made against bridges for allegedly delaying shipments of organs sent to pathologist Dr. Matthias Okoye by the state’s criminal laboratory. Bailey Martin, representing Mississippi’s public safety department, announced that organ donations had been delivered to the funeral home as scheduled on October 17th; however, she declined to provide information regarding any potential delays during their transit to Dr. Okoye.
Reed’s mom marched alongside members of the New Black Panther Party at Delta State University on October 18th. Reed reported experiencing impact on the occipital region of his skull, which was omitted in the formal documentation. The college authorities announced that surveillance videos remain subject to investigation by police and will not be made public.
Conclusion:
As the independent autopsy progresses, Reed’s family and advocates persist in seeking transparency and accountability. With contradictory reports and unanswered questions surrounding his death, the case has emerged as a flashpoint for broader conversations about campus safety, racial dynamics, and the credibility of official investigations. Many hold onto hope that the independent inquiry will uncover the truth and provide a sense of justice for a grieving family.