Investigation into Ole Miss Students’ Deaths
OXFORD, Miss. – Two students from Ole Miss were discovered dead near tablets that contain an ingredient recently banned by the federal government. Strikingly, this product is not listed on the brand’s website.
Documents from the court reveal that Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found deceased on September 21, each near packages of kratom or synthetic kratom. Authorities indicated that Hamilton might have experienced “Pulmonary Edema,” which aligns with the signs of a drug overdose. When first responders arrived at Strang’s home close to campus, he was “cold to the touch.”
The packaging located near both individuals is labeled with the name Modus. The affidavit details that the tablets are identified as Smax Pseudo-DHM and lists pseudoindoxyl and MGM-15(DHM) as some of the ingredients found close to Hamilton.
A statement released by Lafayette County Metro Narcotics, part of the sheriff’s department, did not specifically confirm the presence of kratom at either scene. It noted, however, that packaging related to kratom products was indeed discovered at both locations. The affidavit dated September 25 mentioned that toxicology results are still pending.
Concerns Surrounding Kratom Following Ole Miss Deaths
Mac Haddow, a Senior Fellow on Public Policy for the American Kratom Association, stated at a press conference that the specific drug associated with the students is illegal. He emphasized that the sale and possession of kratom has been prohibited federally since August and that such activities have been illegal in Oxford and Lafayette County since 2019 and 2021, respectively.
The Drug Enforcement Administration classified mitragynine pseudoindoxyl as a Schedule I substance on August 26, which prohibits its sale. A law enforcement officer involved in the investigation asserted that “pseudoindoxyl” refers to this compound, though lab results confirming the actual content of the tablets are still awaited.
Pending toxicology results could shed light on the causes of death for Hamilton and Strang, according to the affidavit.
Modus Brand, headquartered in Florida and California, does not feature the Smax Pseudo Tablets on their website. The company describes the product as a “next-generation approach to botanical supplements, offering a carefully formulated, high-quality product in a convenient chewable format.” It’s uncertain whether these tablets were previously available on the Modus site, as they are currently absent.
In September, Hamilton frequented Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford where two employees, Yahya Mohamed Mosleh and Islam Mohamed, were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, as per court documents. Each received a $100,000 bond. Officials mentioned they do not suspect any connection between these arrests and Hamilton’s death.
Further Details on Synthetic Kratom Products
The gas station where Strang reportedly bought a synthetic kratom product is located approximately 30 minutes from Oxford. The gas station’s owner informed Fox News Digital that the Smax tablets near Strang were not purchased from his store, as he does not label packages with pricing, unlike the one found next to Strang’s nightstand. Despite this, he acknowledged that his store sold Smax Pseudo Tablets and mentioned that federal agents confiscated his entire kratom inventory last Friday.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani noted that selling products containing MGM-15 is illegal following the DEA’s rescheduling, yet prosecution can be complex. He elaborated that while it is unlawful for anyone — whether a drug dealer or a gas station owner — to sell MGM-15, proving intent is necessary for legal action.
The implications for Modus, connected to the product in question, could range from civil to criminal responsibility if the product is confirmed to contain a banned substance, according to Rahmani. The company and anyone in the distribution chain for a Schedule I drug could be held liable.
Multiple inquiries to Modus from Fox News Digital yielded no response.
Fox News Digital also contacted the FBI, DEA, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Lafayette County Metro Narcotics, and relevant individuals for comments.
NOTE: This report has been updated with new information regarding the investigation.
