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The University of Mississippi said Thursday that undergraduate students from Colorado and Georgia died this week in cases that sparked renewed concerns about kratom.
Aidan Hamilton, 18, a freshman from Englewood, Colorado, and Robert Strang, 20, a junior from Atlanta, were found dead in separate locations this week, Ole Miss said.
Both students were discovered Monday, one on campus and the other in the city of Oxford, authorities have said. Packaged kratom was found during each of the death investigations, but no definitive link has been made between kratom and the deaths, officials said.
Kratom is an herb with opioidlike effects sometimes sold at gas stations or online. It has gained popularity in the U.S. as an unapproved treatment for pain, anxiety and drug dependence. Kratom can be stimulating or sedating, depending on the dosage taken, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son, Robert, and are trying to process this unimaginable loss,” the Strang family said in a statement. “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.”
“As we grieve and focus on our family, we ask for privacy, understanding and compassion in the days ahead,” the statement said.
The Hamilton family said Aidan Hamilton was “a bright, wonderful young man who was taken too soon.”
“He is greatly missed. We thank everyone for their prayers and support and ask that you respect our family’s privacy during this time of great loss,” the family said in a statement.
Shawnboda Mead, the university’s vice chancellor for student affairs, cautioned the campus community about misinformation.
“We know there is heightened media attention and that you may be eager for answers. We also recognize that inaccurate information is being shared by individuals who do not have access to the facts,” Mead said in a statement.
“We can all help by not repeating information that has not been officially confirmed and by avoiding public speculation about what happened or why, especially as the causes of the two deaths are still under investigation.”
Phi Delta Theta fraternity said Strang was a member.
“Out of respect for Robert, his family, and those closest to him, the Fraternity has refrained from public comment until his name was publicly released,” it said in a statement Thursday.
“The loss of two young lives is a profound tragedy,” it said. “Phi Delta Theta joins the University of Mississippi and the broader Ole Miss community in mourning Robert and Aidan Hamilton and extending our deepest sympathies to their families, friends, chapter brothers, classmates, and all those who knew and loved them.”
Senior Breaking News Reporter
Madeline Morrison is an associate producer for NBC News.
Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
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