Authorities found packaged kratom during both investigations but say no evidence has established that the substance caused either student’s death.
OXFORD, Miss. — The discovery of packaged kratom during investigations into the deaths of two University of Mississippi students has prompted a warning from local authorities, even as investigators stress that no substance has been identified as the cause of either death.
Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said law enforcement is conducting two separate death investigations after the students died Monday. Investigators said packaged kratom that had been sold through a retail store was found during both investigations. They also emphasized that they have no confirmed evidence connecting the deaths or showing that kratom or another substance contributed to either one.
The students were males ages 18 and 20, according to Lafayette County Coroner Glenn Coleman. The 18-year-old died in a campus residence hall, while the 20-year-old died at an off-campus house in Oxford. Their identities have not been publicly released, and the causes of death remain under investigation.
The kratom finding nevertheless led authorities to urge caution while testing continues. Kratom is derived from a plant native to Southeast Asia and can produce stimulant-like or opioid-like effects. Its legal status varies by jurisdiction. Oxford and Lafayette County have prohibited kratom products, while sales remain permitted in some other parts of Mississippi under state restrictions.
Authorities have been careful to separate the presence of kratom from a finding about what killed the students. No toxicology result released publicly has established that kratom played a role, and investigators have not announced evidence tying another drug or substance to either death. The distinction has become important as rumors about the deaths have circulated online and among students.
One investigation began after emergency crews were called to Stewart Hall shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday for a reported possible overdose. Dispatch audio indicated the person was not breathing and that CPR was being attempted. The emergency call describes what responders were told at the time, but officials have not concluded that the student died from an overdose.
The University of Mississippi has also urged people to avoid speculation. University officials said the Lafayette County Coroner’s Office had confirmed two student deaths and that campus police were not aware of additional student deaths despite unverified reports circulating in the community and on social media.
The investigations have also drawn state assistance. Gov. Tate Reeves said the Mississippi Department of Public Safety and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics are working with local authorities and helping speed toxicology reports. Reeves discussed the broader dangers of illegal drugs, although local investigators have not determined that illegal drugs caused either student’s death.
The cases have brought renewed attention to drug-safety concerns around Oxford, but investigators have not announced findings that would explain the deaths. For now, the presence of packaged kratom remains one fact being examined among others rather than an established cause, and authorities say the two cases remain separate unless evidence shows otherwise.
Toxicology testing and other investigative findings are expected to be important in determining what happened. Officials have not provided a timetable for final results, and the students’ causes of death remained undetermined as the investigations continued.
Author note: Last updated September 24, 2026.