State Autopsy Rules Suicide; Family Seeks Independent Review in Delta State Hanging

Officials say no evidence of foul play; the family has commissioned an independent autopsy as questions persist over surveillance and notification.

By Nathaniel Steele

Updated Nov. 17, 2025

CLEVELAND, Miss. — Demartravion “Trey” Reed, 21, was found hanging from a tree near Delta State University’s pickleball courts on Sept. 15. Campus Police Chief Michael Peeler called the case an “isolated incident” and said investigators found “no evidence of foul play,” adding that video evidence exists but has not been described publicly.

On Sept. 19, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner ruled Reed’s death a suicide. Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. said a preliminary exam showed no broken bones or lacerations consistent with assault. Full state toxicology documentation has not been posted publicly.

Family’s Response

The family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, commissioned an independent autopsy funded by Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp. As of mid-November 2025, that independent report remains unreleased. Earlier viral claims that it found “blunt-force trauma” have not been substantiated by major outlets.

What’s New

Recent coverage from regional outlets confirms that the state’s suicide ruling still stands. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office continue their quiet review; no new public statements have been issued and no additional evidence has been released.

What Remains Unknown

Authorities have not issued a detailed timeline of Reed’s movements or disclosed what the preserved surveillance shows. The discrepancy in the family’s initial notification — being told he died in his dorm room rather than outside — has not been formally clarified. The full state toxicology and the independent autopsy conclusions remain out of public view.

Community

Vigils were held on Sept. 18 on campus and Sept. 21 at Grenada High School, Reed’s alma mater. Students and community members have continued to call for transparency, public release of key records, and an investigation that the family and campus community can trust.

University of Houston Student Found Dead in Brays Bayou; Cause Ruled “Undetermined”

Officials report no signs of trauma; the death joins a cluster of bayou recoveries as citywide questions about waterway safety deepen.

By Nathaniel Steele

Updated Nov. 17, 2025

HOUSTON — Jade Elise “Sage” McKissic, 20, was last seen late Sept. 11 near North MacGregor Way after leaving a restaurant and bar. Her body was recovered from Brays Bayou on Sept. 15 near Spur 5 and Medical Service Drive. Houston police say surveillance shows her leaving a bar alone shortly after 1 a.m. and walking toward the bayou.

An early examination reported no signs of trauma or obvious foul play. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has now formally ruled the cause of death “undetermined.” Officials say decomposition and environmental factors prevented a more definitive conclusion about how she entered the water.

Bayou Pattern and Public Anxiety

McKissic’s case is part of a broader pattern in 2025: at least 28 bodies found in Houston-area bayous, with around 15 now listed as undetermined. Authorities say there is no evidence of a connected serial killer, but residents and advocates have pressed for a centralized review of waterway deaths and clearer communication from investigators.

What’s New

The “undetermined” ruling places McKissic among a growing number of cases where the medical record acknowledges uncertainty rather than accident or suicide. City officials and university leaders have pointed to planned safety upgrades — including improved lighting and surveillance coverage along portions of Brays Bayou near campus.

What Remains Unknown

Authorities have not released a complete toxicology summary, phone or GPS timeline, or additional surveillance footage beyond the initial bar exit. How McKissic entered the water, and whether any interaction occurred between the bar and the bayou, has not been explained in the public record.

Community

Hundreds gathered at the University of Houston’s Lynn Eusan Park on Sept. 22 for a vigil honoring McKissic. A subsequent community event at the last venue she visited raised funds for her family. Student organizers continue to call for both memorial recognition and sustained attention to waterway safety for those who live, work, and study near Houston’s bayous.

Remains Identified as Missing Philadelphia Teen; Suspect Charged as Family Mourns

A 17-year-old’s disappearance ends in tragedy behind a vacant school as questions remain about how long warning signs went unanswered.

By Nathaniel Steele

Updated Nov. 17, 2025

PHILADELPHIA — Kada Scott, 17, was reported missing in October 2025. Weeks later, remains discovered behind a vacant school building were identified as the Philadelphia teenager, bringing a wrenching end to a citywide search.

Authorities say a man, Keon King, has been charged with kidnapping and related offenses in connection with Scott’s disappearance. Prosecutors allege he restrained and transported her before her death, though a formal cause-of-death determination from the medical examiner is still pending.

What’s New

A public funeral service held on Nov. 8, 2025, drew family, friends, and local leaders, turning Scott’s case into a rallying point around missing Black girls and the urgency of early law-enforcement response. Community advocates have used the service to press for stronger alert systems and case tracking when teens are reported missing.

What Remains Unknown

The medical examiner has not yet released a complete cause-of-death report. Investigators have not provided a full public timeline of Scott’s final movements or disclosed whether other individuals might be implicated. Defense filings and any forensic peer review are still emerging in court records.

Ongoing Case and Community Response

Scott’s family has asked for privacy while also calling for justice through the courts. Youth advocates in Philadelphia have linked her case to broader patterns of vulnerability among Black teens who go missing and the gaps in institutional urgency when their families first reach out for help.