Lia Smith, the missing Middlebury College student who vanished earlier this month, has been formally confirmed deceased.
According to accounts, the 21-year-old was reported missing by her father on Sunday, October 19, two days after her last sighting on campus.
A news release from the Vermont Police Department verified that a body located near the campus on Thursday, October 23, belongs to the missing collegiate swimmer.
Following the initiation of an extensive search, officials utilized drones and performed ground searches, subsequently expanding their efforts to the forested regions surrounding Middlebury College in Vermont.
On Wednesday, October 22, the search intensified, involving several organizations such as the Middlebury Fire Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team.
The search concluded tragically the following day, Thursday, October 23, when a body was discovered in a field adjacent to The Knoll, Middlebury College’s organic farm, about 1:30 p.m.
The victim was promptly recognized as Smith, and the first inquiry revealed no indications of foul play.
The Vermont Police Department’s news statement indicates that the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that Smith died by suicide.
Following the tragic announcement, Middlebury College President Ian Baucom released a statement conveying the institution’s deep sorrow.
“I have spoken with Lia’s family to express my heartbreak. As president, and far more as a fellow parent, I ache for them. This is a profound loss that nobody should have to endure,” Baucom wrote on Facebook.
“As we mourn, I want to express my deep appreciation for the efforts of our Student Affairs staff who have been offering such compassionate support to Lia’s family, friends and students across our community. We will continue to support them in every way possible,” Baucom continued.
“She was a diver on our Women’s Swimming and Diving team, a member of our Chess and Japanese clubs, and an articulate advocate of transgender rights. Her academic interests were broad, and she was pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics. She was a gift to us, and we are so grateful that she was — and will always remain — a member of our Middlebury family.”
Reports indicate that Smith became a member of the Women’s Swimming and Diving team upon her enrollment at Middlebury College in 2022. She secured victories in both the one-meter and three-meter diving competitions at a tournament held in December of that year.
The 21-year-old is scheduled to graduate from Middlebury College in May 2026
