Ole Miss Student Found Dead ID'ed As GA Native

OXFORD, MS — One of two students found dead earlier in the week at the University of Mississippi was from Atlanta, according to media reports.

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

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Hamilton was found dead around Monday in Ole Miss' Stewart Hall while Strang was found dead off-campus in a house on Van Buren Avenue, the Daily Mississippian reported.

The school said in a statement that their families "have asked for privacy as they grieve."

An attorney for Strang's family shared a statement with WSB-TV. It read:

"We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son and are trying to process this unimaginable loss. 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."

Official cause of deaths for the two students have not been released.

A drug task force is urging people to avoid kratom after authorities found packages of the substance while investigating the students' deaths, the Associated Press reported.

The warning Tuesday came despite no "confirmed information" that kratom contributed to either death, Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said in a news release.

Ole Miss confirmed the students' deaths in a message on Tuesday.

"The university is heartbroken by the recent loss of two students and extends our condolences to their families, friends and loved ones during this difficult time," Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Shawnboda Mead said in a statement.

U.S. health officials and states have increasingly scrutinized kratom, an herbal extract that acts as a stimulant at low doses and a sedative at high doses, over the past decade. Kratom is legal at the federal level, but some state and local governments have banned the substance and federal authorities have issued warnings about its risks.

Two state agencies were working to expedite toxicology reports for the students, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement Wednesday.

"Mississippi is praying for the families and friends of the two Ole Miss students during this incredibly difficult time," Reeves said.

Authorities said they had no evidence the deaths were connected but noted the kratom found at the scenes was sold at a retail store. Officials did not name the store or say whether any criminal charges would be filed.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we encourage everyone to avoid kratom and any other medication or substance that was not prescribed to you or obtained from a trusted, regulated source," the task force's news release said.

The Alpha Tau Omega fraternity reportedly held a prayer vigil for the students Wednesday. Hamilton and Strang were not members of the fraternity.

The Associated Press contributed reporting and writing.