Court Reveals Causes of Death for Two Ole Miss Students Linked to Illegal Kratom Pills

In Mississippi federal court, attorneys revealed that the deaths of two University of Mississippi students were caused by different mechanisms: Aidan Hamilton, 18, died from a combination of drugs such as cough syrup, whereas Robert Strang, 20, died from inhalation asphyxiation. Both victims had SMAX synthetic kratom pills in their systems, which contain the Schedule I substances mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, MGM-15 and 7-OH, recently banned by the DEA.

Prosecutors said Hamilton obtained the pills twice from the Puffs Vape, Tobacco and Beer store in Oxford, while Strang purchased them from a separate smoke shop about 20 miles away. Store workers Yahya Mosleh and his son Islam were caught after an undercover agent requested 7-OH kratom pills; Yahya allegedly warned the informant about fatal risks. Authorities later seized additional Schedule I drugs and over 500 kratom units from the store. Yahya remains jailed, Islam is set for release on a $20,000 conditional bond, and the store’s owner, Amer Alowdi, faces a pending indictment after fleeing the country.