MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — A tragic outcome to a days-long search: 21-year-old Lia Smith, a transgender senior at Middlebury College in Vermont, has been confirmed dead, and the manner of death has been ruled suicide, according to the Vermont State Police and the Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office.
Smith, from Woodside, California, was a senior at Middlebury College, pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics.
She was also a member of the college’s women’s swimming & diving team, chess club, Japanese club, and an outspoken advocate for transgender rights.
Them She was last seen on campus at approximately 9 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, and was reported missing on Sunday, October 19.
Middlebury
On Thursday, October 23, a body was discovered near the campus—specifically in a field in Cornwall, Vermont, near “The Knoll,” the college’s organic farm.
WJAR
On October 24, the medical examiner confirmed the body was Smith’s, and that the cause was death by suicide.
Newsweek
Response & Community Impact
Middlebury College President Ian B. Baucom released a message to the college community expressing “deep sorrow” and noting that there was no indication of foul play.
Middlebury
Smith’s death has deeply affected the campus; administrators noted that she was a “gift” to their community and announced that they will plan gatherings and memorials in her honour.
The Middlebury Campus
Support & Next Steps
The Vermont State Police investigation is closed concerning suspicion of foul play, but the college emphasises increased support for students.
Them
Resources for students and others coping with emotional distress were reiterated, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.