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Nick Judin

@nickjudin.bsky.social

8.4K followers 180 following 150 posts

Investigative Journalist @mississippifreepress.org Bylines: Guardian / BBC Radio / ProPublica

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Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 20d

The only source provided for that claim was a TikTok from a man claiming to be Trey's cousin. When I spoke to the family's lawyer she had no idea who that person was.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 20d

We have the results of Trey Reed's autopsy from the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office. Consistent with the preliminary findings of the Bolivar County Coroner's Office, Reed's death has been ruled a suicide by hanging. An independent autopsy is expected to follow.

Autopsy Finds Trey Reed’s Hanging Death at Delta State Was a Suicide

Delta State University student Trey Reed’s death was a suicide, Cleveland Chief of Police Travis Tribble said, announcing the results of an autopsy.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 20d

Cleveland PD has announced Trey Reed's autopsy results.

"On September 17, 2025, the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy. Findings were consistent with the initial investigation, determining the cause of death to be hanging and the manner of death as suicide."

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

Grenada, Trey Reed’s childhood hometown, is located roughly an hour east of Cleveland, where he was studying at Delta State University. We have added this response to our story and will continue to provide updates as they come.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

“I said, and I don’t recall the exact wording, but that they didn’t believe it had been done by anyone else ... We prayed, and as we were leaving, the grandmother asked, was he down on the floor, was he by his bed? I said, ma'am, I do not know. And that's when we walked away," stated Williamson.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

“That was never the words that were said when they were notified of his death ... we told (Reed's grandparents) that we had been sent to notify them that Trey Reed had been found deceased at Delta State University, and that the (DSU Police) chief was on scene,” Williamson said.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

A response from the Grenada County Sheriff's Department on the initial confusion over where Trey Reed was found: Ricky Williamson, chief deputy, says that neither he nor his investigator Sonja Willis, who informed the family of Trey Reed of his passing on Monday, specified where he had been found.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

3. Critically, on the subject of video of the death of Trey Reed, police state that video is available, but did not specify if that includes surveillance footage of the event itself. They have asked for patience as the investigation unfolds.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

2. DSU Chief of Police Mike Peeler said that Trey Reed's body has been transported to the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office for a full autopsy, with preliminary results expected in 24-48 hours. He once again reiterates law enforcement believes no threat to campus exists.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

“The student tells us their next of kin, and from the moment we discovered (him), this university has been in regular, frequent contact with the next of kin,” Ennis said. “Trey Reed gave us two names … the university has been and will continue to be in direct contact with Trey’s chosen names.”

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 21d

Updates from Delta State University press event this morning.

1. DSU President Dan Ennis acknowledges that the University has yet to get in contact with Trey Reed's mother, explaining that Trey provided two names as next of kin, and the university was bound to respect that.

Delta State University President Dan Ennis speaks to the press following the death of Trey Reed.

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

“ When I talked to him, he always told me that he had a plan for his life, and many things he wanted. He wanted to go to college,” Jerry Reed said. “He wanted to be a truck driver. Because that’s what I was, for nearly 30 years, and that’s what he wanted to be.”

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

Speaking at the same press event, Pastor Jerry Reed, Trey’s uncle, told the media that his nephew had been a “happy young man,” filled with purpose and excited for a new chapter at Delta State University.

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

“We're not here to point fingers—yet. But we will have answers. The possible constitutional violations of releasing Trey's name to the media immediately after it happened—we'll get to that. But for now, the family is asking for answers," Jones said.

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

“If this young man was on the campus of Delta State University with all these cameras and all this modern technology, from the moment he left his dorm room or entered the campus, there should be surveillance of all his actions,” Jones said. “That's what we want—so we'll know exactly what happened.”

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

Vanessa Jones criticized Delta State University and Bolivar County officials, telling the Mississippi Free Press that both had left the Reed family completely in the dark after the discovery of Trey Reed’s body, “The media,” she said, “knew about Trey’s death before the family did.”

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

“The family does not know exactly what happened on September the 15th of 2025,” said Vanessa Jones of the Jones Law Firm. “We are seeking answers from Delta State University. We're seeking answers from the coroner's office."

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 22d

The family of Trey Reed is seeking an independent autopsy following the Delta State University student’s death on Monday, when his body was found hanging in a tree on campus.

Trey Reed’s Family Calls for an Independent Autopsy After Tree Hanging Death

Demartravion “Trey” Reed’s family is seeking an independent autopsy after the Delta State University student was found hanging in a tree.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · 23d

Thank you for sharing. We'll continue to follow the story as it develops.

Reposted by Nick Judin

Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman.bsky.social · Jun 24

These are two very similar stories of Mississippi families torn apart by ICE.

But Kerlin Moreno-Orellana's story has gotten way less attention on social media than Kasper Eriksen's did, and thus his family's GoFundMe is getting WAY less support.

It's a big disparity.

a screenshot of a gofundme shows a white man and his family smiling. It says "Help Kasper Eriksen
Reunite with His Family"

$62,520 raised, $65k goal - 918 donations

a photo shows a hispanic maj and his family around a birthday cake with happy birthday balloons and streamers. it says "For my family. Para mi familia."

"Se recaudaron $720
Objectivo: $3000
15 donations"

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · Jun 24

“Mr. Kerlin left (Honduras) for a reason. He was on his way to gaining residency (in the U.S.). He could be put in a very dangerous situation. We don’t know where he’ll end up,” said IAJE's Lauren Lewis.

Children Beg for Father’s Release After ICE Detains Jackson Man

Activists are calling on immigration officials to release Kerlin Moreno-Orellana from ICE custody after his arrest for illegal dumping.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · Jun 24

“Mr. Kerlin Moreno-Orellana was doing what so many of us do every day. He was at work,” Mandesha-DeSha’ Thornton of the Immigrant Alliance for Justice & Equity said on June 19. "During those tasks, Mr. Kerlin was arrested along with his boss.”

Children Beg for Father’s Release After ICE Detains Jackson Man

Activists are calling on immigration officials to release Kerlin Moreno-Orellana from ICE custody after his arrest for illegal dumping.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · Jun 24

Two of his sons begged for their father to be returned at a press conference in Jackson last Thursday. "We need our dad back home," said K (an alias).

Children Beg for Father’s Release After ICE Detains Jackson Man

Activists are calling on immigration officials to release Kerlin Moreno-Orellana from ICE custody after his arrest for illegal dumping.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · Jun 24

“There have been changes in the law,” Nathalia Rocha Dickson, an immigration attorney from Louisiana explained. “If he’s been placed in expedited removal in the past, he’s not eligible for bond.”

Children Beg for Father’s Release After ICE Detains Jackson Man

Activists are calling on immigration officials to release Kerlin Moreno-Orellana from ICE custody after his arrest for illegal dumping.

www.mississippifreepress.org

Nick Judin @nickjudin.bsky.social · Jun 24

Now, Moreno-Orellana waits in a detention center in Jena, Louisiana, the same GEO Group run prison where Kasper Eriksen is detained and from where Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil was recently released. He faces an uphill battle to return to his family.

Children Beg for Father’s Release After ICE Detains Jackson Man

Activists are calling on immigration officials to release Kerlin Moreno-Orellana from ICE custody after his arrest for illegal dumping.

www.mississippifreepress.org