The tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Trey Reed—a 21-year-old student at Delta State University in Mississippi—have left his family, campus, and community with more questions than answers. According to reports, Trey’s body was discovered hanging from a tree on the university’s campus on Monday morning, September 15, 2025. (Newsweek)
While official statements indicate that there is no evidence of foul play at this time, Trey’s family has hired civil rights and legal counsel and is demanding a full, independent investigation. (NBC Los Angeles)
When a death occurs under uncertain or potentially negligent circumstances—including on a university campus—family members may have legal avenues to demand accountability, transparency, and possibly pursue civil claims. A wrongful death lawyer experienced in wrongful death, campus liability, and civil rights matters can guide you through assessing these options.
What We Know About the Occurrence
- Trey Reed, of Grenada, Mississippi, was found at approximately 7:05 a.m. Monday on the central campus of Delta State University, hanging from a tree near the pickleball courts. (WAPT)
- The university police, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cleveland Police Department are cooperating in the investigation. (https://www.kgns.tv)
- The Bolivar County Coroner’s Office reported in a preliminary exam that Trey did not have lacerations, contusions, compound fractures or broken bones consistent with an assault. (People.com)
- Despite the lack of evidence at this stage of foul play, Trey’s family and legal representatives have raised concerns about how the discovery was handled, inconsistencies in the information (for example, initial notification that Trey died in his dorm vs. later findings on campus), and want full access to surveillance footage, forensic analysis, and transparency. (Mississippi Free Press)
- The case has sparked broader concerns across the campus and beyond about safety, institutional oversight, and potential systemic issues. (WAPT)
These facts establish a context in which legal counsel may become critical—not just for seeking compensation, but for demanding transparency, integrity in investigations, and institutional accountability.
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How a Lawyer Can Help Trey Reed’s Family
Here’s how an experienced attorney can assist in a case like this:
1. Conducting a thorough investigatory review
- Collecting and preserving all relevant evidence: e.g., campus surveillance footage (which the university acknowledges exists). (BET)
- Obtaining autopsy and forensic reports, and if necessary, coordinating independent autopsies (as Trey’s family has already requested). (NBC Los Angeles)
- Investigating the timeline of events: where Trey was, how he got to that location, whether any third-party interference occurred, and whether university safety protocols were followed.
- Interviewing witnesses (students, faculty, staff), reviewing campus policies, logs, communications, and any prior safety incidents.
2. Evaluating institutional liability
If the circumstances show that the university or another entity failed in its duty of care (for example, by inadequate monitoring, faulty safety procedures, ignoring warning signs, or poor campus supervision), a lawyer can evaluate whether a claim for wrongful death, negligence, or civil rights violation may be possible.
3. Pursuing legal action or settlement
Depending on findings, the lawyer may initiate a civil claim seeking:
- Compensation for economic losses (e.g., funeral/burial, loss of future income, lost contributions Trey would have made)
- Compensation for non-economic losses (e.g., loss of companionship, emotional anguish, pain and suffering of the family)
- Possibly civil rights claims if there is evidence of racial discrimination, institutional negligence, or cover-up.
Whether a whole lawsuit or settlement is the path, legal counsel navigates filings, meets deadlines, negotiates with institutions or insurers, and represents the family’s interests in court if required.
4. Holding institutions accountable
Beyond compensation, the lawyer can advocate for transparency, including independent investigations, the release of footage, institutional changes to prevent recurrence, and public accountability. In Trey Reed’s case, his family is already seeking this. (NBC Los Angeles)
5. Meeting deadlines and preserving rights
Each state (and each type of claim, such as wrongful death, negligence, or civil rights) has specific statutes of limitations and procedural requirements. A lawyer ensures that the family acts in a timely manner and does not lose rights due to missed deadlines.
What Types of Compensation or Remedies May Be Available
Depending on how the investigation unfolds, Trey’s family may be eligible (through legal counsel) to recover for:
Economic Damages
- Funeral and burial costs
- Any medical or investigative bills incurred
- Lost future income and benefits the deceased would have earned
- Loss of services (care, support) that the deceased would have offered
Non-Economic Damages
- Emotional distress suffered by family members
- Loss of companionship, guidance, love, and affection from Trey
- Mental anguish caused by uncertainty, lack of answers, and trauma to the family
Institutional or Civil Rights Remedies
- If it is found that the university failed its duty of care, there may be remedies for negligence or premises liability.
- If there is evidence of discriminatory treatment, racial bias, or a cover-up, civil rights claims under federal/state law may be applicable.
- Courts may award punitive damages in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct (though rare and dependent on jurisdiction).
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Why Acting Promptly Matters
Time is critical. Some reasons why you should engage a lawyer immediately:
- Evidence (footage, witness recollections, campus logs) may degrade, vanish, or become harder to secure.
- Statutes of limitation may limit when claims can be filed.
- Early legal involvement can ensure that communication from institutions is handled appropriately and that the family’s rights are protected from the start.
- Knowing your rights early enables a strategic approach: whether to pursue a full civil investigation, hold a university accountable, or prepare for settlement or litigation.
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Taking the First Step Toward Answers and Justice
The death of Trey Reed is not only a tragic loss of a young life, but it raises profound questions about what happened, why it happened, and whether those questions will ever be fully answered.
For his family—and for any individual in a similar situation—legal counsel can provide the knowledge, advocacy, and structure needed to turn unanswered questions into a path toward clarity and accountability.
If you are a family member, friend, or representative of Trey Reed (or someone in a comparable scenario), here’s what to do next:
- Contact a trusted attorney who specializes in wrongful death, campus liability, civil rights, and negligence law.
- Request a free consultation to review the facts, evidence already available, and discuss potential next steps.
- Ensure all key records—campus surveillance, coroner reports, police logs, incident reports—are collected and preserved.
- Ask about taking no upfront legal fees (many wrongful death/civil rights attorneys work on a contingency basis).
- Begin securing your position—not just for financial recovery, but for truth, transparency, and justice.
Call for a Free Case Review Today
If you or a loved one are facing a situation like Trey Reed’s—an unexplained death under uncertain circumstances involving an institution or where negligence may be present—you do not have to face it alone.
An experienced legal team can stand with you, investigate thoroughly, protect your rights, and pursue the answers and compensation you deserve.
Call (800) 683-5111 or visit https://bencrump.com/contact/ to schedule your free, no-obligation case review today.
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