Colin Kaepernick Funds Second Autopsy in Hanging Death of Delta State Student Trey Reed
Civil rights advocate Colin Kaepernick is continuing his quiet but powerful fight for racial justice by funding an independent autopsy for Demartravion “Trey” Reed, the 21-year-old Delta State University student found hanging on campus in Cleveland, Mississippi, on September 15. Reed’s death was ruled a suicide, but advocates say second autopsies are often critical in uncovering the truth when Black deaths echo the nation’s history of lynching.
Continuing a Legacy of Advocacy
Former NFL quarterback turned activist Colin Kaepernick has spent years challenging systemic racism in policing and criminal justice. Since 2022, his Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative has funded independent autopsies for families of victims of police violence and suspicious deaths. Now, Kaepernick is stepping in to help uncover answers in Reed’s case.
Trey Reed was discovered hanging from a tree on the Delta State University campus in Cleveland, Mississippi — a death that law enforcement quickly labeled a suicide. For many Black families, that determination is devastatingly familiar. Historically, coroners across the South and beyond have declared lynchings as suicides, shielding perpetrators and denying families justice.
Why Second Autopsies Matter
A 2023 investigation by ProPublica, FRONTLINE, and NPR revealed deep flaws in the U.S. death-investigation system. Many coroners are elected officials with no medical training, sometimes serving alongside or under the same law enforcement agencies that may be implicated in a death. Reports documented cases of:
- Misclassifying homicides as suicides
- Prematurely cremating or “losing” bodies
- Skipping autopsies entirely in suspected suicides
For Black families seeking truth and accountability, independent autopsies can be critical. They’re performed by board-certified forensic pathologists who are not tied to local law enforcement — and can provide evidence that challenges false official narratives.
Kaepernick’s Broader Mission
Through the Autopsy Initiative, Kaepernick has helped dozens of families access medical truths and push for accountability. His work reflects a larger movement to interrogate and dismantle anti-Black bias in every part of the criminal legal system — including supposedly “scientific” roles like coroner and medical examiner.
“Communities cannot heal without truth,” Kaepernick has said of his mission to support grieving families seeking clarity.