Robert Strang, a 20-year-old from Atlanta, has been identified as one of two University of Mississippi students found dead under suspicious circumstances in recent days. His family's attorney confirmed the identification to Fox News Digital on Thursday, noting that Strang was the older of the two victims. The family expressed profound grief through the attorney, stating they are trying to process the unimaginable loss and are grateful for the outpouring of support from friends and family. They have requested privacy and compassion as they deal with the death of their son.
Strang was discovered at an off-campus home, according to the Lafayette County Coroner's Office. The second victim, an 18-year-old, is believed to have been found at Stewart Hall, a male dormitory on the Ole Miss campus. Authorities have not ruled out foul play in either case. Both deaths are currently being investigated by the county's narcotics task force, though it remains unclear whether the two incidents are connected. No official cause or manner of death has been released for either victim as of Thursday morning.
Social media posts from the Ole Miss chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity identify Strang as one of seven co-chairmen for the 2026 Rush, the period when new members are recruited. Attempts to reach the parents of the other student went unanswered on Thursday.
Investigators found packages of kratom at both scenes. Kratom is a commercially available drug that has been described as "gas station heroin," but its role in either death was not immediately clear. Campus Greek life leaders have previously circulated warnings about a synthetic opioid called cychlorphine. Students were told that cychlorphine can be treated with Narcan but sometimes requires multiple doses. The synthetic opioid may also not appear on common drug-detecting strips used to identify fentanyl contamination. Students are being urged to avoid all drugs.
Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves stated on Wednesday that state investigators are assisting local authorities. He said officials would try to expedite the toxicology reports for both victims, a process that typically takes weeks to complete.