On Monday afternoon, February 16, 2026, 23-year-old Ethan Knight, a student from Gray, Georgia, was discovered dead inside his off-campus apartment. The Georgia College & State University community is in grief for his untimely and unexpected passing.
Knight, who had recently celebrated his 23rd birthday last month, was discovered by his roommates in their shared two-story home located in the 300 block of West Montgomery Street in Milledgeville shortly before 1:00 p.m. The discovery prompted an immediate emergency response and launched a death investigation by local authorities.
According to Milledgeville Police Department Maj. Brandon Sellers, Knight’s roommates arrived home and found him lying face down in his bed. When they were unable to wake him, one roommate promptly called 911, and a dispatcher instructed them to move Knight from his bed and begin performing CPR. Despite these desperate life-saving efforts, Knight remained unresponsive, and Baldwin County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Chapple pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Baldwin County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Chapple officially identified the student and confirmed that an autopsy would be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Laboratory in Dry Branch to determine the exact cause and manner of death. The autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, and authorities have stated that the results are expected to reveal what led to the tragic death of the young college student.
Importantly, authorities have indicated that foul play is not suspected in connection with Knight’s death. Maj. Sellers, who serves as commander of the police department’s criminal investigation division, suggested that Knight may have suffered some sort of medical episode sometime late Sunday or early Monday and passed away as a result. Officers with the GCSU Department of Public Safety secured medical records from the college and shared them with MPD Detective Lt. Everett January, the lead detective involved in the death investigation.
Ethan Knight was a resident of Gray, Georgia, located in Jones County, and had been living in Milledgeville with roommates while attending Georgia College & State University. The 300 block of West Montgomery Street, where the residence is situated, is located near the GCSU campus and is home to many students attending the university. The news of his sudden passing has sent shockwaves through both his hometown community and the university campus where he was pursuing his education.
As the GBI Crime Laboratory completes its work and the investigation continues, the Georgia College & State University community holds Knight’s family, friends, and roommates in their thoughts during this unimaginably difficult time. The loss of a 23-year-old student who had recently celebrated his birthday has left a void in the hearts of those who knew him, and the university has made counseling and support services available to students and staff affected by this tragedy.