Two men found hanging just hours apart, Mississippi on edge as deadly coincidences and misunderstandings pile up

Mississippi is on edge after two men were found hanging within hours of each other in separate locations, raising concern and questions about what happened in both cases.

The first incident involved Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Black student from Grenada, Mississippi. At around 7:05 a.m. on September 15, 2025, Reed was discovered hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on the Delta State University campus, according to the Mississippi Free Press.

University officials and the Bolivar County Coroner’s office said there was no evidence of foul play. Reed’s body showed no broken bones, fractures, lacerations, or other signs of trauma, officials said.

Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. emphasized that a preliminary medical exam revealed nothing to suggest an assault had taken place.

The Corey Zukatis case

Just a few hours after Reed’s body was found, another man was discovered hanging in Vicksburg, more than 150 miles to the south. Authorities identified him as 36-year-old Corey Zukatis of Brandon, Mississippi.

He was found in a wooded area near the Ameristar Casino sometime between late morning and early afternoon. The Warren County Coroner confirmed Zukatis’s identity but did not release details about the cause of death or whether investigators suspect foul play. Officials have only said that the matter remains under investigation.

The Trey Reed online controversy

Despite those official statements, Reed’s death has become the subject of online speculation. A person identifying themselves as Reed’s cousin posted on social media that Reed had broken arms and legs and claimed he was beaten before being found.

This assertion is at odds with the findings shared by the coroner and university officials. The Mississippi Free Press, which spoke to the county coroner, confirmed that the office “saw no broken limbs” during the initial examination.

While officials have stated there is no evidence of foul play, some reports have indicated that the Delta State University Police Chief, Michael Peeler, has preliminarily ruled the death a suicide. The Bolivar County Coroner’s office has not yet officially confirmed the cause of death and is waiting for a full autopsy. 

Two men dead: Many questions

The proximity in timing between the two incidents has unsettled many. Though the locations are separated by more than 150 miles, both deaths involved men found hanging, and the unusual timing has led to speculation about possible connections.

Moreover, early reports suggested Zukatis was Black, but Jackson, Mississippi, news outlet WLBT confirmed he was white, citing Vicksburg police. NewsOne initially reported that he was Black, but later issued a correction, noting that Vicksburg authorities had confirmed his race.

For now, authorities maintain that there is no evidence linking the cases or suggesting a public threat. Delta State University cancelled centennial celebrations and other events in the aftermath of Reed’s death. At the same time, family members and students have demanded a complete autopsy and transparency about the investigation’s findings.