The two University of Mississippi students who died in separate incidents after packaged kratom was found during both investigations have been identified, weeks after one student’s mother shared an emotional post about his move to college.
Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were identified as the two students who died Tuesday at or near the Ole Miss campus in Oxford, Mississippi.
Friends told The Daily Mississippian that Hamilton was a freshman from Colorado, while Strang was a junior from Georgia.
According to the student newspaper, law enforcement officers responded to Stewart Hall, where they attempted CPR on Hamilton.
Strang was later found dead at an off-campus home on Van Buren Avenue, sources told the outlet.
Last month, Hamilton’s mother, Kathie, posted photographs on Facebook showing her son inside his dorm room and outside the University of Mississippi campus.
She wrote that she and her husband, Peter, were adjusting to becoming “empty nesters,” saying: “We are officially empty nesters – this is going to take some getting used to!!!!”
In a statement to Fox News, Scott Sayres, an attorney for Strang’s family, said: “We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss.”
Officers attempted CPR on Aidan Hamilton, pictured inside his dorm room, after he was found in Stewart Hall.
Robert Strang appears in a post from the Ole Miss Phi Delt Alumni group showcasing the fraternity’s 2026 rush chairs.
“We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of love, prayers and support by so many beloved friends and family,” the statement continued. “Their kindness has meant more to our family than we can ever express.”
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Shawnboda Mead announced the students’ deaths Tuesday.
After the announcement, Mead addressed rumors circulating online that additional students might be unaccounted for.
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“We encourage our community not to speculate about the circumstances or repeat information that has not been officially confirmed,” she said.
The Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit, however, said in a social media post that “packaged Kratom” was found during both death investigations.
Kratom is an unregulated herbal extract commonly used for energy, pain relief and to manage withdrawal symptoms. In larger amounts, it can act on the body in a way similar to opioids.
Police said the substance had been sold by an unnamed retail store. The agency said it remains unclear whether kratom or any other substance contributed to the students’ deaths.
Authorities have urged the public not to consume kratom or other substances that have not been prescribed or recommended by a medical professional.
Strang’s family said in a statement that they were “heartbroken by the loss of our dear son” and were trying to process the “unimaginable loss.”
The Lyceum, the University of Mississippi campus’s oldest building, is pictured in Oxford on April 12, 2008.
Officials said that kratom, pictured here, was found during both investigations into the deaths
‘Local, state, and federal partners are working collaboratively to gather the facts and provide answers as quickly and responsibly as possible,’ the agency said.
‘We are also working closely with the families involved and ask that their privacy be respected during an incredibly difficult time.’
Police also reminded the community that Narcan, an over-the-counter medication that reverses an opioid overdose, is available in vending machines across campus.
The university echoed the police, stating that their thoughts are with the friends, family, and loved ones of the two students.
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