Major Takeaways:
Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative will fund an independent autopsy for Trey Reed.
Authorities ruled Reed’s death a suicide, but his family disputes the findings and wants clarity.
Multiple agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office, are now reviewing the case
Colin Kaepernick Funds Second Autopsy for Mississippi Student Trey Reed
Colin Kaepernick is stepping in to help the family of Demartravion “Trey” Reed as they search for answers about the 21-year-old’s mysterious death. The former NFL quarterback is covering the cost of a second autopsy through his Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative, civil rights attorney Ben Crump confirmed Friday, September 19.
Reed, a student from Grenada, Mississippi, was found hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts on Delta State University’s campus the morning of September 15. The discovery shook the school, forcing officials to cancel classes as the community tried to process the tragedy.
Days later, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office ruled Reed’s death a suicide by hanging. Toxicology results are still pending, but a Bolivar County coroner said their preliminary review showed no signs of foul play. Reed’s family, however, isn’t convinced and demanded an independent autopsy.
“This loss reopens old wounds in a community that’s seen too much pain for too long,” Crump said. “Peace will come only by getting to the truth. We thank Colin Kaepernick for standing with this grieving family in their fight for justice and clarity.”
The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have all received case files. For Reed’s family, the independent review represents more than just science it’s a shot at real answers.
