Body found amid search for Vermont college student missing for nearly a week: Police
A body was found in a field during the search for a missing Vermont college student who hasn't been seen for nearly a week, police said Thursday.
Lia Smith, 21, a senior at Middlebury College, was reported missing on Sunday, according to police. The California native was last seen in a building on campus on Friday at approximately 9 p.m., according to the Middlebury Police Department.
During a large-scale search for Smith on Thursday, members of Vermont State Police's search and rescue team located a body at approximately 1:30 p.m. in a field west of the campus near the college's organic farm in Cornwall, authorities said.
An autopsy is expected to be performed on Friday to confirm the identity and determine the cause and manner of death, which initially does not seem to be suspicious, Vermont State Police said.
The identity of the deceased person will be released following the autopsy, police said.
Middlebury College President Ian Baucom said this update in the search is "extraordinarily difficult news to receive."
"This is incredibly saddening news, and we are working to support our community in every way we can at this difficult time," Baucom said in an update to the school community Thursday.
In a joint statement, the Vermont State Police and Middlebury Police Department thanked the "numerous local, state, federal and civilian agencies, Middlebury College personnel, and volunteers for their considerable assistance in this week's search efforts."
Vermont State Police said it activated its search and rescue team on Wednesday at the request of the Middlebury Police Department, with the first "full-scale search" involving its team on Thursday. The "comprehensive search" included multiple locations in and around Middlebury and involved multiple agencies, search crews and volunteers, police said.
Middlebury police have also conducted drone and ground searches since Smith was reported missing, and college staff were searching campus facilities, police said.
New York State Police and the FBI have been assisting in the investigation, police said. Middlebury College said its Department of Public Safety also assisted local police in the search.
"We will do everything we can to find Lia," Middlebury officials said in a statement to the school community on Monday. "She is a beloved member of our Middlebury family and there is nothing more important than the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students and of our entire community."
The school said Monday it has been in touch with the student's family and friends "to offer support and learn all we can about the student's recent activities and whereabouts." Counseling services are also being offered, it said.
