OXFORD, Miss. — The two University of Mississippi students whose deaths raised suspicion in recent days have been identified.
Robert Strang, 20, of Atlanta, was identified by his family’s attorney as the older victim, News Media reported Thursday. University officials identified the other student as Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Colorado.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss,” Strang’s family said Thursday through their attorney. “We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of love, prayers and support by so many beloved friends and family. Their kindness has meant more to our family than we can ever express.”
Robert Strang is shown in an undated family photograph. The 20-year-old University of Mississippi junior died under suspicious circumstances. (Strang family)
Through their attorney, Strang’s family asked for privacy and compassion as they mourn his death.
Social media posts from the Ole Miss chapter of Phi Delta Theta list Strang as one of seven co-chairmen for the fraternity’s 2026 Rush, the recruitment period for new members.
Attempts to contact Hamilton’s family on Thursday were unsuccessful.
Authorities told News Media on Thursday that foul play had not been ruled out.
The Lafayette County Coroner’s Office said Strang was found at an off-campus home. The other victim, an 18-year-old, is believed to have been discovered at Stewart Hall, a men’s residence hall on the Ole Miss campus.
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Stewart Hall is a residence hall at the University of Mississippi where an 18-year-old student is believed to have died Monday. Dispatch records indicate first responders arrived within a minute of being dispatched to the location. (Adam Sabes/News Media)
The Lafayette County Coroner’s Office previously told Fox News that an 18-year-old was found in a dorm room, while the 20-year-old was recovered from an off-campus home. The county’s narcotics task force is investigating both deaths, though authorities have not said whether the cases are connected.
Investigators found packages of kratom, a commercially available substance sometimes derided as “gas station heroin,” at both locations. Its possible role in either death remained unclear. Campus Greek life leaders had also circulated a warning about cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid.
Students were told that cychlorphine can be treated with Narcan but may require multiple doses. The substance may also evade commonly used drug-testing strips designed to detect fentanyl contamination.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves speaks and gestures during the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Mississippi, on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)
Officials are urging students to avoid all drugs.
Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that state investigators were helping local authorities and would work to expedite toxicology testing for both students. Those reports typically take several weeks to complete.
As of Thursday morning, officials had not released an official cause or manner of death for either student.
This is a breaking news story. Stay with News Media for additional updates.