Search for a missing student ends in a fatal discovery

Dear Middlebury Community, With deep sorrow, I write to share that in a press release issued last night, the Vermont State Police have now confirmed the identity of the person found near campus on Thursday as Lia Smith. They continue to confirm there is no suspicion of foul play. 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. 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. I’d also like to share my immense gratitude to the Middlebury Police Department for leading the investigation and to all the volunteers and agencies that helped in the search, including the Vermont State Police. I am profoundly grateful to our Public Safety team who I know poured their hearts into the search for Lia. Over the past few days, I have learned what a remarkable person Lia was. She came to Middlebury from Woodside, California, where she attended Sacred Heart Preparatory School. 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. In the coming days, we will be planning opportunities for our campus community to gather and remember Lia, and we will keep you informed as those plans take shape. I know that this is a wrenching time. Please continue to extend care and compassion to one another and to yourselves. Ian