Two University of Mississippi students are found dead at separate locations, and law enforcement officials say packaged kratom is recovered during both investigations. The deaths prompt an ongoing inquiry by local narcotics investigators.

Officials and multiple outlets report that investigators uncover similarly packaged kratom at each scene, but they do not confirm that the drug contributed to the students’ deaths. NBC News and others describe the investigation as separate casework occurring in parallel, with packaged kratom found during the searches. CBS News also notes that the circumstances involve the same easy-to-find drug, while some reporting highlights that rumors spread online after the discovery.

Fox News identifies the students as Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang and reports that Smax synthetic kratom tablets were found near them, with toxicology results described as pending or completed at different points in the coverage. Several outlets also note that families are involved in the process of notification and that authorities say additional findings will come later. The accounts converge on the discovery of packaged kratom in both rooms, while the exact role of the substance remains under investigation.