A body has been discovered during the search for missing Vermont college student Lia Smith, 21, who was last seen on Middlebury College campus about a week ago. The location where the body was found is in the town of Cornwall near The Knoll, the college’s organic farm. The Vermont State Police confirmed the discovery on Thursday afternoon, around 1:30 p.m., and have secured the area for a death investigation.
Lia Smith, a trans woman from California, is a senior double majoring in computer science and statistics and a former Middlebury women’s swimming and diving team athlete. She was reported missing on Sunday, October 20th, after being last seen on campus on the night of October 17th. The search has involved multiple agencies including the Vermont State Police, New York State Police, and the FBI, following initial efforts involving ground searches and drones.
Despite the scale of the search, police initially planned a live press update on Thursday afternoon but canceled it shortly before it was set to begin. Middlebury College President Ian Baucom issued a statement on Instagram, expressing condolences and offering support to the community during this difficult time.
While the authorities are awaiting the results of the autopsy to confirm the victim’s identity and determine the cause and manner of death, they have indicated that they do not believe the death is suspicious. The college, known as a ‘Little Ivy,’ has a population of about 2,800 undergraduate students and is located in Addison County, Vermont, within the Champlain Valley.
The case has drawn attention as the search for Smith has sparked new theories and discussions about possible criminal activity, including links to a serial killer profile. However, no official connection has been established at this time. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Middlebury Police Department and the college for further comment.