OXFORD, Miss. (WMC) - The University of Mississippi has identified the two students who died Monday.

Ole Miss says 18-year-old Aidan Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colo., and 20-year-old Robert Strang, a junior from Atlanta, died.

Strang’s family released this statement on the loss:

“We are heartbroken by the loss of our dear son, Robert, 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.

“As we grieve and focus on our family, we ask for privacy, understanding and compassion in the days ahead.”

Shawnboda Mead, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, released the following statement on the deaths:

Dear students, faculty and staff, 

As our university community continues to mourn the recent tragic loss of two of our students, I encourage everyone to remember that at the center of this are two grieving families, who are processing the unimaginable loss of a child. 

We have been in touch with the families to offer our deepest sympathies and share university support and resources. Until now, we have upheld their wishes not to release the names of their students. Today, the families of Aidan Hamilton, a freshman from Englewood, Colo., and Robert Strang, a junior from Atlanta, have given us permission to share their names. The families have asked for privacy as they grieve.

We offer heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and classmates of Aidan and Robert. While there are no words that can alleviate the tremendous sorrow they are experiencing, please keep them close in your thoughts and prayers during this time of immense grief.

We are grateful to our University Police and law enforcement partners, who are committed to upholding the safety and well-being of our community and are working swiftly to investigate these cases. 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. 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. 

The University of Mississippi is a close, supportive community. I encourage anyone in need of support to reach out to those around them, or to seek assistance from university support services, including the University Counseling Center and UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy.

We are grateful for the care, understanding and support being shared as our campus community navigates this difficult time.

Hamilton was found unresponsive on campus and later died after CPR attempts, while Strang died off-campus.

Toxicology reports are not yet available, and the cause of their deaths remains under investigation.

Lafayette County Metro Narcotics said Tuesday that store-bought kratom, a leafy substance that causes opioid-like effects, was found at each location. Whether other drugs were involved remains under investigation.

Investigators with the Lafayette County Metro Narcotics Unit emphasized there is no evidence linking the two deaths.

The Phi Delta Theta fraternity posted the following in response to Strang’s death:

“Phi Delta Theta is deeply saddened by the passing of our brother, Robert Strang, a member of the Mississippi Alpha Chapter at the University of Mississippi.

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.

The loss of two young lives is a profound tragedy. 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.

These losses reinforce the importance of a collective commitment to health, safety, and well-being on college campuses today. We encourage the Phi Delta Theta community to keep the Strang family, the Mississippi Alpha Chapter, and everyone affected by these tragic losses in their thoughts."

Click here to sign up for our newsletter!

Click here to report a spelling or grammar error. Please include the headline.

Copyright 2026 WMC. All rights reserved.