Colin Kaepernick is once again stepping in to support a grieving family in their search for justice.
The former NFL quarterback and activist, through his Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative, will cover the costs of an independent autopsy for Demartravion “Trey” Reed, a 21-year-old Delta State University student found hanging from a tree last week.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Reed’s family, announced the support on Sunday.
“Trey’s death evoked the collective memory of a community that has suffered a historic wound over many, many years and many, many deaths,” Crump said in a statement. “Peace will come only by getting to the truth. We thank Colin Kaepernick for supporting this grieving family and the cause of justice and truth.”
The Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office has preliminarily ruled Reed’s death as suicide, citing hanging as the cause of death.
Toxicology results are still pending and could take several weeks. According to the Cleveland Police Department, the case materials have already been turned over to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for further review.
But Reed’s family has raised doubts, saying they need more answers before accepting the state’s conclusion. His mother told WREG that she last spoke to her son just days before his death, and he was “excited to attend Delta State.” Those details have fueled her determination to pursue an independent investigation.
Kaepernick launched the Know Your Rights Camp Autopsy Initiative in 2022 to provide families with free, second-opinion autopsies when they question official findings. The program is staffed by board-certified pathologists and aims to empower families who may otherwise be unable to afford independent examinations.
By covering the cost of Reed’s autopsy, the initiative ensures his family has access to additional medical analysis as they search for clarity. For Kaepernick, it’s part of his larger commitment to challenging systemic injustices and supporting communities too often left without answers.
As Reed’s family waits for his body to be released for the independent examination, the case has reignited painful conversations about race, history, and trust in official investigations.
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