Missing student Lia Smith, 21, found dead
Missing Middlebury College Student Lia Smith Found Dead
1. Tragic Discovery
Lia Smith, a 21-year-old Middlebury College student reported missing on October 19, has been confirmed dead.
Vermont State Police said her body was found on October 23 near The Knoll, the college’s organic farm.
2. Search Efforts
Authorities conducted extensive ground and drone searches involving multiple agencies,
including the Middlebury Fire Department and Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team.
3. Investigation Findings
Police reported no signs of foul play.
The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Smith died by suicide.
4. Remembering Lia
Middlebury President Ian Baucom expressed “heartbreak” and called her “a gift to us.”
Smith was a diver on the Women’s Swimming and Diving team,
active in the Chess and Japanese clubs, and an advocate for transgender rights.
She was pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics, set to graduate in 2026.
