Missing College Student Lia Smith, 21, Found Dead — Autopsy Report Reveals Heartbreaking Details

It began as every parent's worst nightmare — a bright young college student vanishes without a trace, sparking an urgent search that gripped a small Vermont town. And now, the heartbreaking truth has come to light.

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Lia Smith, a 21-year-old Middlebury College student, was found dead nearly a week after she was first reported missing. The discovery ends days of frantic searching, unanswered questions, and growing fear across the campus community.

Lia Smith | Source: Facebook/Middlebury College

Smith was last seen on Friday night, October 17, on the Middlebury College campus. When she didn't return, her friends and professors raised the alarm — and by Sunday, October 19, the Middlebury Police Department had launched a full-scale search.

Authorities deployed drones, conducted ground sweeps, and later expanded efforts to wooded areas both on and around the campus. At the department's request, college staff scoured every building, hoping to find some trace of the missing student.

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By Wednesday, October 22, the search had drawn in multiple agencies — including the Middlebury Fire Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and even the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team. Game wardens, volunteer dog teams, and local residents joined forces in an all-out effort to bring Smith home.

Middlebury College Campus, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

That hope shattered on Thursday, October 23, at approximately 1:30 p.m., when searchers made a grim discovery — a body in a field west of campus, near The Knoll, Middlebury College's organic farm. The victim was soon identified as Smith.

Authorities confirmed the initial investigation found no signs of foul play. On Friday, October 24, the medical examiner determined that Smith's death was a suicide.

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