Kratom found at locations where two Ole Miss students were discovered dead

Two University of Mississippi students died this week and packaged kratom was found during the separate death investigations, law enforcement officials said Tuesday. Authorities said they have not confirmed that kratom or any other substance was a contributing factor in either death. Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said Tuesday that it has no information that the two deaths are linked. “However, packaged Kratom sold from a retail store was found during both investigations,” it said in a statement. “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 Ole Miss students have not been publicly identified by authorities.

Both were found dead Monday; one on campus, and the other in the city of Oxford, Mayor Robyn Tannehill said. “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,” the university said. The deaths, which are under investigation by local, state and federal authorities, are being treated as separate inquiries, according to Lafayette County Metro Narcotics. Raegan Settle, a senior who is the student editor-in-chief of the student newspaper “The Daily Mississippian,” said the mood on campus was “really frantic.” A lot of the