Oxford, Mississippi — Two University of Mississippi students who died in separate incidents on the same day have been identified, as authorities continue investigating what happened and whether a substance found at both locations played any role.
The university identified the students Thursday as 20-year-old junior Robert Strang of Atlanta and 18-year-old freshman Aidan Hamilton of Englewood, Colorado. Both students died Sept. 21, but officials have stressed that the cases are being investigated separately and have not said that the deaths were connected.
Families Remember Two Young Students
Strang’s family described the loss as devastating and asked for privacy while they process what happened.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss,”
The family also expressed gratitude for the support they have received from friends and relatives following his death. Strang was a junior at Ole Miss and had been involved with the university’s Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where he served as a co-chairman of the chapter’s 2026 rush activities.
Hamilton was a freshman who had recently begun his college experience at Ole Miss. His family described him as a young man who was taken away far too soon.
“Aidan was a bright, wonderful young man who was taken too soon. He is greatly missed,”
The family also thanked those who have offered prayers and support and asked that their privacy be respected during the difficult period.
Students Were Found in Different Locations
The two deaths occurred in different locations in Oxford, according to investigators.
Hamilton was found unresponsive at a campus residence hall. Emergency personnel attempted to provide medical assistance, and the circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation.
Strang was found at an off-campus residence.
Authorities have not released official causes of death for either student. Toxicology results are still pending, meaning investigators have not yet established whether drugs or another medical or environmental factor contributed to either death.
The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit is handling the investigations. Officials have repeatedly emphasized that there is currently no evidence establishing a connection between the two deaths.
Packaged Kratom Found at Both Scenes
One detail has drawn particular attention during the investigations. Authorities said packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was found at both locations where the students were discovered.
However, investigators have not confirmed that kratom contributed to either death.
The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit said it does “not have confirmed information indicating that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death.”
Because toxicology reports have not yet been completed, authorities have urged the public not to assume that kratom caused the deaths.
The substance is an herbal extract derived from a tree native to Southeast Asia. Its effects can vary depending on the amount consumed, and health officials have raised concerns about potential adverse effects and dependence.
Officials Urge Caution as Toxicology Results Awaited
The investigation comes as officials work to determine exactly what happened to the two students.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said state agencies were working to expedite toxicology reports, which could provide investigators with important information about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Authorities have also urged people to avoid kratom and other substances that were not prescribed to them or obtained from a trusted, regulated source.
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The warning does not establish that kratom caused either student’s death. At this stage, the exact causes remain undetermined. That distinction is important as investigators continue reviewing evidence from the two separate scenes.
Ole Miss Offers Support to Grieving Families
The University of Mississippi said it has been in contact with both families and is offering university resources and support.
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Shawnboda Mead said the university’s focus remains on the families and the students affected by the losses.
“We have been in touch with the families to offer our deepest sympathies and share university support and resources,”
The university had initially withheld the students’ names at the request of their families. Their identities were released after the families gave permission.
For classmates and friends, the deaths have left the Ole Miss community mourning two students whose college experiences ended unexpectedly.
As investigators continue working to determine what happened, what are your thoughts on the latest developments in the Ole Miss case? Share your reaction in the comments below, while keeping the families of Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang in your thoughts.
