Two Ole Miss Students Found Dead Identified as 18-Year-Old Freshman and 20-Year-Old Junior as Investigations Continue

20-year-old Robert Strang (pictured) was found dead under mysterious circumstances along with 18-year-old Aidan Hamilton. Family handout

Two University of Mississippi students who were found dead in separate locations on Monday have been identified as investigators continue working to determine what happened.

The university identified the students on Thursday as Robert Strang, 20, a junior from Atlanta, and Aidan Hamilton, 18, a freshman from Colorado.

Their deaths remain under separate investigations, and authorities have not confirmed what caused either death.

Families remember the two students

Strang’s family described the loss as unimaginable and said they were struggling to process the death of their son.

“We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss,” a spokesperson for the family told The Post.

The family also expressed gratitude for the support they have received from friends and relatives during the difficult period, saying their kindness had meant more than they could express.

Strang was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and served as co-chairman of the fraternity’s 2026 Rush.

Hamilton’s family remembered him as a bright and wonderful young man who was “taken too soon.”

They thanked those who had offered prayers and support and asked for privacy as they grieve.

The university has also been working with both families to provide support and access to available resources.

“We have been in touch with the families to offer our deepest sympathies and share university support and resources,” Shawnboda Mead, vice chancellor for student affairs, said.

Two deaths, two separate locations

The circumstances surrounding the deaths have drawn attention because the students were found in different places.

Strang was found at an off-campus home, while Hamilton was discovered at a male dormitory on the Ole Miss campus.

Authorities have stressed that the two cases are not believed to be connected.

Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said investigators are treating them as separate death investigations. The causes of death have not been confirmed, and toxicology results were not yet available as the investigation continued.

Emergency call reported a possible overdose

Adding to the uncertainty, emergency responders were called to the Ole Miss campus on Monday after a report of a possible overdose.

A Lafayette County dispatch recording obtained by WMC Action 5 News captured a caller saying the person was believed not to be breathing and that efforts were being made to begin CPR.

The recording does not establish whether the person mentioned in the emergency call was one of the two students who later died.

Investigators have not confirmed that either death was caused by an overdose.

Kratom found at both scenes

Authorities have also confirmed that packaged kratom purchased from a retail store was discovered during investigations at both locations.

Kratom is a plant-derived substance that can produce opioid-like effects. It can be legally sold in some parts of Mississippi but is restricted in Lafayette County, where the University of Mississippi is located.

The discovery has prompted concern and warnings from local authorities, but investigators have been careful not to draw a connection between the substance and the deaths without evidence.

Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said it has “no confirmed information indicating that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death.”

The agency has nevertheless urged people to avoid kratom and any medication or substance that was not prescribed to them or obtained through a trusted, regulated source.

Investigation continues

As the university community mourns Strang and Hamilton, investigators are still working to establish the circumstances and causes of the two deaths.

At this stage, authorities have not confirmed that the cases are related, nor have they established that kratom played a role.

For the families and friends of the two students, the focus remains on grieving their loss while investigators continue searching for answers.