Court hearing reveals how two Ole Miss students died on the same day

New details have emerged about the deaths of two University of Mississippi students who were found on the same September day. The information came out in a federal courtroom rather than through any official report.

What the hearing revealed

A defense attorney described the causes of death Friday at a hearing for two men charged with selling narcotics out of a smoke shop near campus, Memphis station Action News 5 reported. One student reportedly died from a mix of substances that included cough syrup. The other reportedly died of inhalation asphyxiation.

The medical findings have not been released in official records. Investigators say three kratom-related compounds turned up in both students: mitragynine, MGM-15 and MGPI.

Pills from two shops

According to court filings, Hamilton is thought to have picked up pills shortly before his death at an Oxford shop called Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store. Strang is believed to have gotten similar pills from a different shop roughly 20 miles away.

After the deaths an undercover informant went into Puffs and asked about kratom pills. An arrest affidavit says a clerk confirmed the shop carried them. The clerk also reportedly warned that people were dying from them.

Police later searched the store. Officers took about 500 kratom and kratom-like items. They also seized products believed to contain THC.

Found with foam around their mouths

A narcotics agent testified that one student was found dead in a campus dorm. He had white foam at his mouth and blood near his teeth. About an hour later the second student was found unresponsive off campus with the same white foam.

The case so far

Two employees of the shop face federal drug charges. A judge kept one man in custody over concerns he might leave the country. The other, Islam, was released on a $20,000 bond with conditions. Neither has been convicted.

Prosecutors say the deaths fit the pattern of overdoses. The exact part the substances played is still being investigated.