Ole Miss student toxicology reports to be completed next week — and could trigger state law to crack down on fentanyl dealers
By
uncertain
reports → complete → dealers
Toxicology reports in the suspicious deaths of two University of Mississippi students are expected to be completed as early as next week, according to the state’s commissioner of public safety, and Oxford police have separately announced arrests in connection with a raid on a tobacco shop accused of trafficking narcotics.
uncertain
police → expect → narcotics
The victims have been identified as Robert Strang, a 20-year-old junior from Atlanta, and Aidan Hamilton, an 18-year-old freshman from Colorado.
asserted
victims → identify → Colorado
Both families have asked for privacy and compassion as they mourn the loss of their sons.
asserted
they → ask → sons
It remains unclear how the students died, but narcotics detectives are involved in investigations into both of their deaths.
uncertain
detectives → remain → deaths
If the reports find fentanyl, there is a special Mississippi law that can be used to target whoever sold it, according to authorities.
uncertain
whoever → find → authorities
“Under Parker’s Law, enacted in 2022, criminal charges may be pursued when an unlawful delivery of fentanyl results in a person’s death,” Sean Tindell, the commissioner of Mississippi’s Department of Public Safety, told Fox News Digital.
uncertain
Tindell → enact → Digital
“If the investigation establishes those circumstances, law enforcement will work with prosecutors to pursue the appropriate charges and hold those responsible accountable.
asserted
those → establish → charges
”
“At this point in time, we do not know that,” Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch told Fox News Digital about whether the arrests are connected to the deaths.
asserted
arrests → know → deaths
“We know that, again, it’s been a very thorough situation as they are going through and making these arrests and preparing the evidence.
asserted
they → know → evidence
So we don’t know at this point if they are connected at all.”
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
asserted
Report → know → news
The suspects were linked to an Oxford retail business where police allegedly found stockpiles of drugs including THC products and kratom, which is legal in many parts of the country but not in Lafayette County.
uncertain
which → link → County
“During the search, agents recovered more than 500 units of kratom, along with an assortment of THC cartridges, gummies, and other suspected narcotics,” police said in a statement.
asserted
police → recover → statement
“Kratom has been prohibited from possession, distribution, and sale within the City of Oxford since 2019.”
asserted
Kratom → prohibit → 2019
The store is called Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer Store, located in the 100 block of Heritage Drive in Oxford.
asserted
store → call → Oxford
Oxford police arrested Yahya Mohamed Mosleh, 51, and Islam Mohamed, 18.
asserted
police → arrest → Mosleh
In 2022, the business owner, Amer Alowdi, 40, was indicted on narcotics trafficking charges and fled the country before being prosecuted, police said in a statement.
asserted
police → indict → statement
It was not immediately clear how the business remained open.
asserted
business → remain → ?
Tindell told Fox News Digital Thursday that while authorities haven’t uncovered any indications of foul play, they haven’t ruled it out either.
“
asserted
they → tell → it
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,” he said.
asserted
he → report → evidence
Without the toxicology reports, it’s also too early to determine whether kratom or other drugs were involved in the deaths.
asserted
kratom → ’ → deaths
Police previously said that they found packages of kratom, which is commercially available in many places but not in Lafayette County, at both scenes.
asserted
which → say → scenes
Gov. Tate Reeves pledged to provide state resources this week to help expedite the toxicology reports.
asserted
Reeves → pledge → reports
They can typically take weeks to complete, but it may boil down to a matter of days in the Ole Miss case.
uncertain
it → take → case
The Aporia
