Court records describe a warning from an Oxford, Mississippi, vape store clerk about kratom products before two Ole Miss students were found dead on Sept. 21, 2026. Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found separately, with similar synthetic kratom packaging reported near both men. Investigators have not determined what role kratom played in either death. The records also detail arrests, seized products and other substances found during the investigation.

The affidavit says Hamilton had made several purchases at Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store, including one the day before his death. Authorities did not establish in the court documents that the products found near him came from that store.

The warning at an Oxford vape store

According to the affidavit, a confidential informant visited Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in Oxford and asked whether the business sold 7 O kratom-based pills. A clerk allegedly confirmed that it did, opened a drawer beneath the register and produced a package. The records identify the store employee as Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51.

“Be quiet” about the pills and be careful taking them because “people were dying from them,” the clerk allegedly told the informant.

The affidavit does not establish that the kratom products found near Hamilton came from the store. It does show that Hamilton made several purchases there during September, including a transaction one day before he was found dead.

The deaths of two Ole Miss students

Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang were found dead on Sept. 21. Hamilton was discovered first at a residence near the University of Mississippi campus. Officials stated that he could have died from pulmonary edema, a condition that can be consistent with a drug overdose, although the available records do not identify a definitive cause of death.

About one hour later, officers were sent to another house near campus and found Strang. First responders described him as cold to the touch. The two cases drew attention because similar packages labeled Smax, Pseudo-DHM were reportedly found near both men.

Products and substances found at the scenes

The court documents describe Smax, Pseudo-DHM tablets as a synthetic kratom-derived product sold at some gas stations and tobacco shops for a narcotic-like effect. A package was reported near Hamilton when paramedics arrived. A similar package was found on Strang’s nightstand.

Investigators also reported 20 to 30 nitrous oxide canisters, commonly called whippets, at Strang’s residence. His roommates said he used them daily and told officers he had been watching football and had taken a Xanax bar the day before he was found. Hamilton’s roommate said Hamilton often smoked marijuana but was not known to use hard drugs.

Arrests and the continuing investigation

Authorities seized more than 500 units of kratom from the Oxford vape store, along with THC cartridges, gummies, pre-rolled products and other suspected THC substances. Yahya Mohamed Mosleh and Islam Mohamed, 18, were arrested and face charges of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, according to the court records.

The records do not say that the products found near either student were purchased from the vape store. Investigators also reported that the synthetic kratom-derived product associated with Strang had been purchased at a gas station about 30 minutes from Oxford.

What remains unknown about the deaths

The precise role of kratom, synthetic kratom or any other substance in the deaths remains undetermined. The presence of similarly labeled products is part of the investigation, but it does not by itself establish where the products came from or whether they caused either death.

The court records provide details about purchases, witness statements and evidence collected at the residences and store. They do not resolve the medical causes of death or establish whether the two cases were connected. Those questions remain subject to investigative and medical findings.

Summary

The affidavit adds new details to the investigation into the deaths of Aidan Hamilton and Robert Strang, including their reported possession of similar synthetic kratom products and activity at an Oxford vape store. It also documents a warning allegedly given by a store clerk and the seizure of hundreds of kratom units. However, the evidence described so far does not establish a definitive cause of death, a common source for the products or a direct connection between the two cases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the two Ole Miss students?

Aidan Hamilton, 18, and Robert Strang, 20, were found dead separately near the University of Mississippi campus on Sept. 21, 2026.

What product was found near both students?

Authorities reported packages labeled Smax, Pseudo-DHM, described in the records as a synthetic kratom-derived product, near both men.

Has kratom been confirmed as the cause of death?

No. Officials have not determined what role kratom or any other substance played in either death.

What happened at the Oxford vape store?

Authorities seized more than 500 kratom units and other suspected drug products. Two people associated with the store were arrested on controlled-substance distribution charges.

©2025 News Journos. All rights reserved.

Toxicology reports for two University of Mississippi students who died under suspicious circumstances could be completed as early as next week. Mississippi officials say the findings may determine whether the state’s anti-fentanyl law can be used in a criminal investigation. Oxford police have also arrested two men after a raid at a tobacco shop where officers reported finding kratom, THC products and other suspected narcotics. Authorities have not established a connection between the shop investigation and the students’ deaths.

Article Subheadings

Toxicology testing is being expedited

State officials expect toxicology reports in the deaths of Robert Strang and Aidan Hamilton as early as next week. The examinations are being accelerated with state resources after Gov. Tate Reeves pledged assistance. Toxicology testing can typically take weeks, but investigators are seeking results within days because the deaths have raised concerns among students and families in Oxford, Mississippi.

The reports are expected to help determine whether drugs played a role and, if so, which substances were present. Until the medical examinations and related investigative work are complete, authorities cannot make a final determination about the circumstances of the deaths.

The student deaths remain under investigation

Robert Strang, a 20-year-old junior from Atlanta, and Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Colorado, were identified as the victims. Their families have asked for privacy and compassion while mourning their sons. Narcotics detectives are involved in investigations into both deaths, although authorities have not publicly established how either student died.

Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said investigators have not uncovered indications of foul play but have not ruled it out. He said autopsy findings, witness statements and collected evidence will be needed before officials reach a final conclusion.

“Until the autopsy is reported, and the investigators have an opportunity to get statements and collect evidence, then that final determination will not be made until later,” Tindell said.

Parker’s Law could apply if fentanyl is confirmed

If toxicology results identify fentanyl, authorities may examine whether Mississippi’s Parker’s Law applies. The law, enacted in 2022, allows criminal charges to be pursued when an unlawful delivery of fentanyl results in a person’s death. Its potential use would depend on evidence showing both an illegal delivery and a connection to a fatality.

Sean Tindell said investigators and prosecutors would evaluate the evidence if those circumstances are established. The reports could therefore influence the next stage of the investigation, but no conclusion about fentanyl involvement has been announced. Students have also circulated warnings about cychlorphine, a powerful synthetic opioid they say may require multiple doses of Narcan, though the article provides no official finding linking that substance to the deaths.

Oxford police announce tobacco shop arrests

In a separate investigation, Oxford police arrested Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18. Both men are local residents and were connected by police to Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store in the 100 block of Heritage Drive.

Police said agents recovered more than 500 units of kratom, THC cartridges, gummies and other suspected narcotics during the search. Kratom has been prohibited from possession, distribution and sale in the City of Oxford since 2019 and is not permitted in Lafayette County, despite being commercially available in many other places.

Police also said the business owner, Amer Alowdi, was indicted on narcotics trafficking charges in 2022 and left the country before prosecution. Authorities did not explain how the business continued operating.

Officials have not linked the cases

The tobacco shop raid and the student death investigations are proceeding separately. Oxford police have not said that the arrests or seized substances are connected to the deaths, and officials have cautioned that it is too early to determine whether kratom or any other drug was involved.

Packages of kratom were reportedly found at both death scenes, but that fact alone does not establish the substance as a cause or contributing factor. Investigators must await toxicology results, complete autopsies and assess other evidence before identifying a cause of death or determining whether criminal charges are appropriate.

Key Points

Summary

The pending toxicology reports are central to determining how Robert Strang and Aidan Hamilton died and whether controlled substances were involved. Fentanyl findings could lead investigators to consider Mississippi’s Parker’s Law, while the separate Oxford tobacco shop arrests demonstrate broader local narcotics enforcement. For now, authorities are withholding final conclusions until medical and investigative evidence is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are the toxicology reports expected?

Officials said the reports could be completed as early as next week after state resources were provided to expedite testing.

Who were the students?

Robert Strang was a 20-year-old junior from Atlanta, and Aidan Hamilton was an 18-year-old freshman from Colorado. Both attended the University of Mississippi.

What is Parker’s Law?

Enacted in Mississippi in 2022, Parker’s Law permits criminal charges to be pursued when an unlawful delivery of fentanyl results in a person’s death, subject to the evidence gathered by investigators and prosecutors.

Are the tobacco shop arrests connected to the deaths?

Authorities have not established a connection. The arrests followed a separate raid at an Oxford tobacco shop where police reported finding kratom, THC products and other suspected narcotics.

©2025 News Journos. All rights reserved.

Witnesses testified Wednesday that an alleged cocaine operation linked to Penn State fraternities expanded from 100-gram purchases to kilogram loads. The testimony was presented during preliminary hearings at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. Prosecutors allege that cocaine was brought to State College from Philadelphia, New York and Long Island before being distributed to students. Fourteen people have been charged in the alleged operation, including five defendants addressed during the hearings.

The allegations have not been proven at trial, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Witness describes the alleged supply chain

Thomas Robinson, a former Delta Upsilon member, testified that he and Mohammed Huraibi began purchasing cocaine from Agostino Abbatiello in 2023. Robinson said their first purchase was about 100 grams for roughly $4,000. He testified that the quantities later increased to 250 grams, 500 grams and approximately one kilogram.

Robinson said he eventually bought directly from Abbatiello through Snapchat after Huraibi stopped selling. He described a March 2024 purchase of about 500 grams for approximately $22,000, followed by alleged one-kilogram purchases in July, September and November 2024. Robinson testified that the cocaine was sold primarily to fraternity members near Penn State.

Fraternity rooms and pledges enter the testimony

Robinson testified that cocaine was stored in his fraternity room, where it was divided into half-gram bags and sold for about $80 each. Huraibi separately testified that he and Robinson discussed buying cocaine in bulk for resale and purchased 100 grams for about $4,000 in August 2023 and 250 grams for approximately $10,000 in November.

Huraibi said he and Robinson initially packaged the cocaine themselves, but that fraternity pledges later helped with the work. He testified that he stopped participating after pledges became involved. Prosecutors also accuse other fraternity members of assisting with packaging, deliveries, purchases or the use of a digital scale.

Alleged transportation and storage network

Lars Zeepvat, a former Sigma Chi member, testified that Abbatiello’s alleged sales developed from personal cocaine use and later became focused on money and popularity. Zeepvat said cocaine was sometimes kept in fraternity houses and apartments where students gathered.

Zeepvat described an alleged November 2024 delivery to Delta Upsilon involving a large brown bag that Abbatiello said contained about 400 grams of cocaine. Complaints also accuse Zeepvat and Robert Zanolla of traveling to New York to obtain cocaine for Abbatiello, with Zanolla allegedly helping transport it back to the State College area.

Safe evidence and disputed witness accounts

Ryan Matson testified that Paul Robinson helped retrieve a safe hidden in the woods after Thomas Robinson’s arrest. Matson said Thomas wanted to prevent drugs and money from being found during a possible raid. He acknowledged that he never opened the safe and initially withheld information from investigators to protect Thomas.

Detective Donald Paul testified that investigators seized a safe from Thomas Robinson’s fraternity room on December 13, 2024. It contained cocaine, marijuana, a handgun and Adderall pills, according to the detective. Paul also said Thomas later told investigators that a safe moved to Matson’s apartment held about 100 grams of cocaine and between $5,000 and $10,000 in cash. Paul Robinson’s defense disputed whether the safe contained drugs when recovered and whether he knew what it held.

Charges, bail and the next legal stage

The hearings involved Abbatiello, Huraibi, Paul Robinson, Thomas Robinson and Zanolla, who are among 14 people charged in the alleged operation. Prosecutors describe Abbatiello as a top-level supplier and the largest alleged dealer. Defense lawyers challenged witness credibility, including Robinson’s memory, because he used cocaine while selling it. Robinson acknowledged that his drug use could have affected his recollection and said he was arrested in December 2024 before being removed from his fraternity.

A judge ruled that charges against Paul Robinson involving alleged concealment or destruction of evidence, evidence tampering and interference with a police investigation could proceed. Abbatiello was granted $250,000 secured bail after previously being held without bail.

“I’m happy with the way things went today. My client’s going to be posting bail soon. And I think we saw the real, true Centre County justice at work,” attorney Philip Masorti said outside the courthouse.

Summary

Testimony in Centre County outlined an alleged drug network that prosecutors say used fraternity relationships to move cocaine to Penn State-area customers. The defense has challenged the reliability of key witnesses and disputed aspects of the evidence. Further proceedings will determine whether the charges advance, while the defendants retain the presumption of innocence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Penn State cocaine case about?

Prosecutors allege that cocaine was transported to State College and distributed through a network involving fraternity members and other defendants.

How large were the alleged purchases?

Witnesses testified that purchases grew from about 100 grams to approximately one-kilogram loads during 2023 and 2024.

Have the defendants been found guilty?

No. The allegations have not been proven at trial, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

©2025 News Journos. All rights reserved.