Death investigation underway involving GCSU student from Jones County

Published 11:31 am Tuesday, February 17, 2026

A death investigation is underway  by Milledgeville and Baldwin County authorities following the discovery of the body of a Georgia College & State University student inside an off-campus residence Monday afternoon.

Baldwin County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Chapple identified the student as 23-year-old Ethan Knight, a Gray resident who lived in Milledgeville with roommates in a two-story house on the 300 block of West Montgomery Street.

Milledgeville Police Department Maj. Brandon Sellers said roommates discovered Knight laying face down in his bed when they arrived home shortly before 1 p.m. Monday.

Knight was unresponsive when his roommates attempted to awaken him. One of them then called 911. A dispatcher advised the roommates to remove Knight from his bed in order to perform CPR.

The life-saving measures were unsuccessful, authorities said. 

Knight was later pronounced deceased at the scene, Chapple said.

An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory in Dry Branch, according to the chief deputy coroner.

The autopsy is expected to reveal the exact cause and manner of death.

Sellers, who is the commander of the police department’s criminal investigation division (CID) said there did not appear to be any foul play connected to Knight’s death.

He also said the victim could have suffered some sort of medical episode sometime late Sunday or early Monday and passed away.

Medical records were secured from the college by officers with GCSU Department of Public Safety and shared with MPD Detective Lt. Everett January, the lead detective involved in the death investigation.

Knight just celebrated his 23rd birthday last month, authorities said.