Ole Miss victims identified as narcotics task force probes two student deaths

OXFORD, Miss. — One of the two University of Mississippi students found dead under suspicious circumstances in recent days have been identified by his family's attorney.

Robert Strang, a 20-year-old from Atlanta, is the older of the two victims, his family's attorney told Fox News Digital Thursday.

"We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss," Strang's family told Fox News Digital 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."

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Robert Strang pictured in an undated family photo. The 20-year-old University of Mississippi junior died under suspicious circumstances. (Strang family)

The attorney said the Strang family is asking for privacy and compassion as they deal with their son's loss.

Social media posts from the Ole Miss chapter for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity identify Strang as one of seven co-chairman of the 2026 Rush, when new members are recruited.

Attempts to reach the other student's parents went unanswered Thursday.

Authorities also told Fox News Digital Thursday that foul play had not been ruled out.

Strang was discovered at an off-campus home, according to the Lafayette County Coroner's Office. The other victim, age 18, is believed to have been found at Stewart Hall, a male dorm on the Ole Miss campus.

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Stewart Hall, a dorm building on the University of Mississippi campus where an 18-year-old students is believed to have died on Monday. Dispatch records show first responders arrived within a minute of being sent to the address. (Adam Sabes/Fox News Digital)

The Lafayette County Coroner's Office previously told Fox News that an 18-year-old had been found in a dorm room and the 20-year-old victim was recovered at an off-campus home. Both deaths are being investigated by the county's narcotics task force, and it's unclear whether they were connected.

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Authorities found packages of kratom, a commercially available drug that has been derided as "gas station heroin," at both scenes, however its role in either death was not immediately clear. Campus Greek life leaders have previously circulated a warning about a synthetic opioid called cychlorphine.

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Cychlorphine can be treated with Narcan but sometimes requires multiple doses, students were told. It also may not show up on common drug-detecting strips used to find fentanyl contamination.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves gestures and speaks during the Neshoba County Fair in Philadelphia, Miss., on Thursday, June 25, 2026. (USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect)

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Students are being urged to avoid all drugs.

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Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that state investigators were assisting local authorities, and that they would try and expedite the toxicology reports on both victims. Such reports typically take weeks to complete.

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No official cause and manner of death have been given for either victim as of Thursday morning.

This is a breaking news story. Stick with Fox News Digital for updates.

Adam Sabes is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to Adam.Sabes@fox.com and on Twitter @asabes10.