Autopsy finds hanged Mississippi student died by suicide, police say

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Delta State University sign on the campus grounds, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025 in Cleveland, Miss. (AP Photo/Sophie Bates)

CLEVELAND – An autopsy by the office of Mississippi's state medical examiner concluded that a Black student found hanging from a tree at Delta State University died by suicide, police said Thursday.

The police department in Cleveland, where the campus is located, announced the findings in a news release. It said the autopsy results were consistent with a preliminary examination of the body by the Bolivar County coroner, which found no evidence of foul play.

The 21-year-old student's death, discovered early Monday, immediately ignited strong emotions in a Southern state with a history of racist violence .

Even before the autopsy results were announced, the