Missing Vermont College Student Lia Smith Has Been Confirmed Dead
The death of missing Middlebury College student Lia Smith has been officially confirmed. The 21-year-old was reported missing on October 19 after last being seen on campus.
On October 23, Vermont State Police discovered a body near the college. An autopsy later identified the remains as Smith.
The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has determined that Smith’s death was a suicide. The police released this finding in an official press statement.
Middlebury College President Ian Baucom shared the news with the campus community. He expressed his profound heartbreak and stated he had spoken directly with Smith’s family.
President Baucom remembered Smith as a remarkable person from Woodside, California. She was a diver on the women’s team and an advocate for transgender rights.
Smith was also pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics. Her body was found in Cornwall, Vermont, near the college’s organic farm.
The college community is mourning the loss. Support services are being offered to students, staff, and Smith’s family during this difficult time.
