A Princeton University student who went missing a few days ago has been found dead, authorities said Thursday.
The body of Misrach Ewunetie, 20, was found behind a college tennis court by an employee around 1 p.m., the Mercer County Attorney’s Office said in a news release. A medical examiner will determine the cause of death, but prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said: “There were no obvious signs of injury and her death did not appear to be of a suspicious or criminal nature.”
The school said there was no threat to the campus or the surrounding area.
“Misrach’s death was an unimaginable tragedy. Our hearts go out to her family, her friends, and the many who knew and loved her,” said W. Rochelle Calhoun, vice president of campus life.
Earlier Thursday, campus security told students they would see more drones, helicopters and boats canvassing for Ewunetie at the university, which has been around since Oct. 14.
Before the discovery, Ewunetie’s mother, Tiruedil Kassa, had been urging anyone with information to come forward, according to NBC-owned WKYC in Cleveland: “If they have anything, please let us know, let the police know, let others know.”
She described her daughter as a quiet, introverted and kind girl.
“She’s such a trusting person and just a lovely person,” she said.
Ewunetie attended an event in October. 13 At the Terrace Club, a eating hall, and then back to her dorm, her roommate saw her around 3am. But after 4 a.m., a roommate said she was no longer there, Ewunetie’s brother, Universe Ewunetie, told NBC News on Wednesday.
Universe Ewunetie said he and his sister were texting in October. 13, the last time he heard from her. By Sunday, her phone was off.
“We couldn’t find her phone,” Casa told WKYC. “We don’t know, it’s been down since Sunday. It was valid until then.”
Ewunetie, Class of 2024, disappeared in October. 14. During the fall campus vacation one week before the last day of class, many students go home.
In an email to students, the Ivy League school said that on Sunday night, Ewunetie’s family notified its Department of Public Safety that they had not heard from her for several days and requested a health check.
Princeton DPS has been leading the investigation into her disappearance with the Mercer County Attorney’s Office since Sunday. On Monday, the school alerted the campus that Ewunetie was missing.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Princeton students were told there would be an increase in law enforcement on and off campus as the desperate search using helicopters, drones and boats continued.
Universe Ewunetie said the family is originally from Ethiopia and his sister grew up in Euclid, Ohio. She has no ties to the New Jersey area other than the school, he said.
“She was loved and cared for and we miss her,” he said.
Cleveland City Councilman Charles Sleif and Councilwoman Rebecca Maurer also posted public video request Get help.
They said they worked with her at Minds Matter Cleveland, a nonprofit that provides academic and mentoring resources to high-performing, low-income high school students.
“She’s an amazing student, and that’s not the usual behavior,” Maurer said in the clip.
Slife said Ewunetie worked with them every weekend for three years “to make sure she got into the college of her dreams, and when she got into Princeton, she was thrilled.”
Describing her on Facebook as “a dedicated student,” she was honored as a valedictorian in high school and drove all the way to Princeton.
Slife adds sociology major “Internship at Bank of America and work for McKinsey”.
Ewunetie’s high school, Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School in Cleveland, said she is a 2020 honorary graduate.