The University of Mississippi has identified the two students found dead earlier this week, as investigators continue trying to determine what happened in each case.
University police were first called to Stewart Hall on Monday afternoon after a report of a possible medical emergency. Later that same day, a second student was found dead at a separate location in Oxford. Officials have treated the deaths as unrelated, and no confirmed connection has been made between them.
The students were Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Englewood, Colorado, and Robert Strang, a 20-year-old junior from Atlanta. The university said both families had initially requested privacy before giving permission for the names to be released.
Investigators found packaged kratom near both scenes. Kratom is an herbal substance sometimes marketed for pain relief, but Lafayette County officials said there is no confirmed evidence that kratom or any other substance caused either death. Toxicology testing is still underway, and state agencies are working to speed up the results.
The university has urged students, families and others not to speculate about the deaths, saying unverified claims have already started circulating on social media. Officials want confirmed reporting, not rumor, to drive the public understanding of the case.
Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead spoke on behalf of the school and said, “We have been in touch with the families to offer our deepest sympathies and share university support and resources,” Mead said. She added: “We offer heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and classmates of Aidan and Robert. While there are no words that can alleviate the tremendous sorrow they are experiencing, please keep them close in your thoughts and prayers.”
The university has made counseling and other support resources available to students as the campus absorbs the loss. No criminal charges have been announced, and investigators have not shared additional details beyond the discovery of the kratom packaging. Both families are asking for continued privacy, and the school said it will provide more information as it becomes available.
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