University of Mississippi students found dead, controversial herbal supplement found in belongings

The University of Mississippi community is mourning the sudden loss of two undergraduate students who were found dead in separate locations earlier this week. The deaths have also put a new spotlight on the controversial herbal supplement known as kratom, which was reportedly found alongside the students’ belongings.

According to NBC News, university officials identified the students on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, as Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Englewood, Colorado, and Robert Strang, a 20-year-old junior from Atlanta, Georgia.

Both young men were found dead on Monday, Sept. 21, according to local law enforcement and university officials. One was found on the main University of Mississippi campus, while the other was discovered by emergency responders within the city limits of Oxford, Mississippi.

The herbal supplement is not FDA approved

During the initial processing of the two scenes, authorities found packaged kratom alongside the students’ belongings. That detail has understandably raised questions among students, parents and others following the case. Still, investigators and university officials have been clear that there is no confirmed clinical or forensic connection between the supplement and either death at this time.

Kratom is a widely available herbal supplement that can have stimulant, sedating, or opioid-like effects. Some people use it for pain or anxiety, but it has not been approved by the FDA for medical treatment.

The DEA has warned about the potential for dependence associated with kratom. Health officials have also raised concerns about contamination and the inconsistent dosing of products sold commercially.

The two families are now grieving the loss of their sons. The Strang family said they were heartbroken over Robert’s death, while the Hamilton family described Aidan as a bright young man who was taken too soon.

University officials, including Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead, have asked students to avoid speculation and misinformation while investigators continue working to determine what happened. The Phi Delta Theta fraternity has also joined the university community in mourning the students.

The deaths have understandably had an effect on student life around the university. Some local student-led groups are now pushing for more peer-to-peer education about unfamiliar over-the-counter substances and what students should know before taking them.

Authorities have said the final autopsy and toxicology reports could take several weeks. Medical examiners have to screen for a wide range of substances before an official cause of death can be determined, meaning there may not be immediate answers for the families or the university community.

In the meantime, university leaders are encouraging students to use on-campus counseling and mental health services while they deal with the loss. University medical staff have also reminded students to report unusual symptoms or other health problems after taking supplements to campus healthcare professionals.

Administrators are looking at other ways of helping students

Public health advocates have also pointed to the deaths as a reason for closer attention to unregulated botanical substances in college towns. Administrators have proposed additional funding for university wellness programs aimed at helping students deal with academic stress in safer ways.

For now, the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain unclear. State forensic teams are continuing their work, while the University of Mississippi community waits for the autopsy and toxicology findings. Student leaders are also organizing an on-campus memorial service next week as students come together to remember Hamilton and Strang.