Kaepernick funds independent autopsy for Delta State student’s death

Colin Kaepernick is paying for an independent autopsy of Demartravion 'Trey' Reed, a 21-year-old Delta State University student whose death was ruled a suicide, Reed's family said Friday. Reed was found dead hanging from a tree on the Delta State campus in Cleveland, Mississippi, and Bolivar County authorities concluded there were no injuries indicating assault. Police said no foul play is suspected in the death as officials investigated.

Crump said Reed's family has received conflicting accounts and incomplete information about the circumstances surrounding his death. He added that Kaepernick will pay for an independent autopsy through his Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative to seek clarity on the cause and manner of death. The family’s attorney described the investigation as a moment to search for truth and accountability.

Bolivar County Coroner Randolph Seals Jr. said earlier Reed did not suffer injuries consistent with an assault, a finding that has drawn questions from Reed's family and supporters. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Mississippi Democrat, called for a federal investigation into Reed's death, citing the state’s painful history of racial violence and lynching. Thompson indicated that getting to the bottom of what happened would require outside scrutiny beyond local authorities.

Kaepernick, who last played in the NFL in 2016, remains widely known for his activism and for leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in the 2012 season. His career on the field included a 28-30 record as a starter, with a promising start followed by tougher seasons, a arc that observers say did not diminish his long-running influence off the field. Through philanthropic and social-justice initiatives, Kaepernick has continued to use his platform to highlight issues around policing, equality and community support.

Reed's death has drawn renewed attention in Mississippi and beyond as families seek answers in cases where official conclusions have been contested or questioned. The independent autopsy being funded by Kaepernick is part of a broader pattern in which private initiatives seek to supplement or challenge official autopsy results when families feel the process has not fully explained a death. Delta State University has not publicly commented on the development.

The case arrived at a moment when questions about accountability around deaths in custody and under campus auspices remain a national concern. Reed's family has said they intend to pursue all lawful avenues to obtain clarity and pursue justice for Trey.