Missing Vermont College Student Lia Smith Has Been Confirmed Dead

Medical Examiner Confirms Cause of Death for Missing Middlebury Student

Missing Middlebury College student Lia Smith, 21, has been confirmed dead after an extensive search.

Smith was reported missing by her father on October 19, two days after she was last seen on campus. Authorities discovered a body near the college on October 23, which was later identified as Smith’s, according to a statement from the Vermont Police Department released on October 24.

The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Smith died by suicide, as noted in the official release. PEOPLE magazine reached out to both the police and the medical examiner for further comment but received no immediate response.

Middlebury College President Ian Baucom shared the tragic news with the campus community, expressing his sorrow and offering condolences to Smith’s family. “As a fellow parent, I ache for them. This is a profound loss that nobody should have to endure,” he said.

Baucom praised Smith as a “remarkable person,” describing her as a diver on the women’s swimming and diving team, a member of the Chess and Japanese clubs, and a strong advocate for transgender rights. She was pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics.

Police stated that Smith’s body was found in Cornwall, Vermont, near Middlebury’s organic farm. Students had joined law enforcement in the search, highlighting the close-knit nature of the community.

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