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Former NFL star and activist Colin Kaepernick has pledged to fund an independent autopsy for Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a Delta State University student found hanging from a tree on campus.
On Friday (September 19), civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced that Kaepernick would be funding a second autopsy for Reed through the former quarterback's "Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative."
Reed, 21, was found hanging from a tree near Delta State University's campus pickleball courts on Monday (September 15) at around 7 a.m. Delta State Police Chief Mike Peeler said no evidence of foul play was found. The Bolivar County Coroner’s Office said its initial findings revealed no signs of attack before Reed's death.
On Wednesday (September 17), an initial autopsy performed by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office ruled Reed's cause of death as hanging and concluded it was suicide.
However, Reed's family has reported conflicting accounts of the student's death from authorities. Attorneys for Reed’s family said police initially told them that the 21-year-old had died in his dorm room.
“The family does not know exactly what happened on Sept. 15, 2025,” Vanessa J. Jones, one of the family's attorneys, said. “We are seeking answers.”
Kaepernick is paying for a second, independent autopsy amid the conflicting reports.
“Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths," Crump said in a statement. "Peace will come only by getting to the truth. We thank Colin Kaepernick for supporting this grieving family and the cause of justice and truth.”
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation (MBI), are involved in the ongoing investigation. Cleveland Police Department officials have also handed over investigation materials to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for review.
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