Lauren Blackburn, a junior at Princeton University who had been missing for almost a week, was discovered dead on Friday morning ( local time ) at Lake Carnegie, close to the New Jersey campus, according to Princeton’s Department of Public Safety.
The body of Lauren Blackburn ’26 was discovered at Lake Carnegie this night, and I am profoundly saddened to inform you. Our souls are big and we extend our sincere condolences to Lauren’s family and friends, Lauren’s family and friends,” wrote Regan Crotty, Dean of Undergraduate Students, in a letter to the college area.
The cause of death has not yet been revealed. According to the university, Blackburn, 23, was last seen on April 19 at approximately 6 p.m. near Firestone Library. His mobile after rang up close to the man-made river, prompting authorities to launch a water search on April 21.
About a mile from the library where Blackburn was last seen, the 263-acre reservoir Lake Carnegie, which was donated by steel magnate Andrew Carnegie for a donation amount equivalent to$ 9.5 million today, is located just south of campus.
Blackburn previously served as a feature writer for the student newspaper, according to the Daily Princetonian, and she most recently received the 2024 Sam Hutton Fund for the Arts, an honor that supports summer research, traveling, and independent study through the Lewis Center for the Arts.
Blackburn graduated from Corydon Central High School after moving to Corydon, Indiana. He made articles as a senior in high school in 2019 by receiving both a Gates Scholarship and a National Merit Scholarship. He was referred to as a student with an unusual memory and a type personality by teachers. Kate Robinson, an English instructor, told WAVE at the time,” He may read a book and understand everything in it.” Karen York, a professor of science, continued,” I have never, ever heard him ever speak a terrible word.”
The Daily Princetonian reported that all previous six Princeton fatalities were ruled suicides following Blackburn’s death, which is the sixth such dying since 2021.
Authorities had previously warned the school neighborhood of an increased police presence while the search was being conducted by the Department of Public Safety with the assistance of local law enforcement, according to TODAY.com, and the search was led by the department’s department of public safety.
Additionally, NBC News shared images from Blackburn’s high school years, which showed his full scholarship to Princeton and the praise he received from his teachers, citing a previous meeting.
Officials have not provided additional information, and TODAY.com has reached out to representatives for opinion.
