Posted on 09/25/2026 11:09:52 AM PDT by Red Badger
OXFORD, Miss. (NewsNation) — The University of Mississippi on Thursday identified the two students who died Monday as freshman Aidan Hamilton and junior Robert Strang.
The university said the families gave permission to release the names and asked for privacy as they grieve. Hamilton is from Englewood, Colo., while Strang is from Atlanta, according to the records.
“We have been in touch with the families to offer our deepest sympathies and share university support and resources,” Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead said in a message to the campus community.
The causes of both deaths remain under investigation. One student was found dead in a dorm on campus and another within city limits.
Strang’s family, through a spokesperson, said in a statement that they are “heartbroken by the loss of our dear son, Robert.” The family also thanked friends and relatives for their support and asked for “privacy, understanding and compassion.”
According to Lafayette County Metro Narcotics, authorities are conducting two separate probes. At this time, they said there’s no confirmed evidence indicating the two deaths are connected.
However, investigators said packaged Kratom sold from a retail store was found during both investigations.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage everyone to avoid Kratom and any other medication or substance that was not prescribed to you or obtained from a trusted, regulated source,” authorities said.
Investigators urged the public to avoid the synthetic opioid and any medication or substance not prescribed by a doctor or obtained from a trusted, regulated source. Officials also asked people to avoid speculation while the investigations continue.
“We recognize that inaccurate information is being shared by individuals who do not have access to the facts,” Mead said.
Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are helping local law enforcement and working to expedite toxicology reports.
“Mississippi is praying for the families and friends of the two Ole Miss students,” he wrote on social platform X.
What is herbal substance kratom?
The herbal substance comes from tropical trees in Southeast Asia and can cause “opioid- and stimulant-like effects,” according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). It contains chemical compounds that can affect the body, two of which are well-studied: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH).
You can find kratom sold in capsule and powder form. The latter can be mixed into foods and beverages, such as a “euphoric seltzer.” Kratom products are frequently advertised as being able to improve your mood, focus, and energy levels.
The substance can interact with the same brain receptors that chocolate, coffee, and exercise impact, the American Kratom Association notes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any uses of kratom. However, NIDA explains that some people have reported using the substance to “manage drug withdrawal symptoms and cravings” as well as pain, fatigue and mental health problems.
More than 1.8 million people over the age of 12 reported using kratom within the previous 12 months in a 2024 survey.
“It really deals with the normal stresses of daily life and the aches and pains related to it,” Mac Haddow, senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association, told Nexstar’s WPRI.
Is kratom considered safe?
Research into the short- and long-term effects of kratom continues.
NIDA warns that some have reported feeling nauseous, constipated, dizzy or drowsy after using kratom, while health care providers have reported tremors, seizures, high blood pressure and liver problems among patients. Similar reactions have been reported among those who use cannabis, and any reactions may vary based on the person, product and amount consumed.
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed an increase in poison center calls regarding kratom products, with a spike in last year’s cases coinciding “with the emergence of high-potency, semisynthetic formulations, including 7-hydroxymitragynine.”
Nexstar’s Addy Bink contributed to this report.
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Jim
whatever these children ingested that killed them, it’s guaranteed that it was laced with lethal quantities of fentanyl ... genuine 100% kratom by itself, while ultimately addictive despite BS to the contrary, doesn’t kill ...
That would be my guess as well................
She can't be the only one in our community who takes Kratom and drives an SUV and drives by that pasture. You'd think our town would be a ghost town by now. But, noooooooo. People keep moving here! Seems like most of them move here the Gay Bay area.
Flee, people, flee! Save yourselves! If the Kratom doesn't kill you, the SUVs will. And if the Kratom and SUVs don't kill you, the cow farts will.
And don't even get me started on the common cold. Upp, oops, I mean covid.
I’m very sad to read about this. I have a friend that is a pastor of a local church that just lost his son and the cause of death was linked to the use of this Kratom crap. The family was devastated and he is on a crusade to make sure this stuff is harder to come by and having very public warnings about the possible outcome of using too much of this stuff. I coached this kid that died in youth baseball and he was such a great kid and teammate and would do anything us coaches would ask of him. Truly a sad sad situation.
RIP
Kids.
.
So many ways...
Life is PRICELESS.
Choose Life.
I’m guessing this stuff might be addictive which could lead to abuse as opposed to a carefully regulated and monitored regime for specific conditions using verified “clean” ingredients.
I have a hard time understanding young people. So many of them have been brainwashed about polluting the planet. However, they will ingest a chemical substance they have no idea about what it contains or their production and/or distribution network.
They see it sold in stores so automatically believe that it is safe.................
Kratom: Unsafe and ineffective
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/kratom/art-20402171
Lord have mercy!
You can die from taking too much ibuprofen or acetaminophen, too. Kratom DOES come with instructions. Kratom is the new SUV. The new cow farts. Don’t people recognize a psy-op when they see one yet?
“I’m guessing this stuff might be addictive which could lead to abuse as opposed to a carefully regulated and monitored regime for specific conditions using verified “clean” ingredients.”
while that is true, it takes a while to become addicted, and these kids were in college only a couple of weeks before they were killed .... furthermore, 100% genuine kratom won’t kill you ... these children ingested something laced with lethal quantities of fentanyl ...
That’s how ignorant they are.
Not to worry. No new laws needed, Darwin to the rescue.
Their brains aren’t fully developed and they want to have it both ways.
They need to reshoot Reefer Madness and make Kratom Madness.
Never had a problem with Mexican Brown weed in the early 80’s. Separating the seeds and stems on a frisbee took awhile, but no one died.
Condolences to family and friends of Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang.
Separating the seeds and stems on a frisbee took awhile, but no one died...
Thanks for the blast from the past lol. I needed that today.
Separating the seeds and stems on a frisbee took awhile, but no one died...
Thanks for the blast from the past lol. I needed that today.
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