2 weeks Ago By People
Lauren Blackburn, a junior at Princeton University , was found dead in a lake on Friday, April 25, nearly one week after he was last seen at a campus library. He was 23. Blackburn's body was found in Lake Carnegie, a man-made lake on the university's campus, per an email by the Dean of Undergraduate Students, Regan Crotty, the Daily Princetonian reported .
Authorities previously pinged a missing phone to the area, located near the Firestone Library, where he was last seen on Saturday, April 19, at approximately 6 p.m. local time, according to a Tiger Alert emailed to students on Tuesday, April 22.
The university held a gathering at New College West Head of College House on Friday. Deans from the Office of Religious Life, counselors and residential college staff were available at the event, per Crotty's email. Blackburn was an English major and a member of New College West.
Related: Ex Princeton Wide Receiver Tiger Bech, Brother of TCU Star Jack Bech, Dies in New Orleans Attack: 'Love You Always' The Department of Public Safety began its search for Blackburn in Lake Carnegie on Monday, April 21. The lake, which is nine feet deep and 35 feet from the shoreline, was constructed for Princeton's rowing team in 1906, according to the university . Blackburn was a recipient of the 2024 Sam Hutton Fund for the Arts and a former features writer for Princeton's student newspaper.
Prior to his college career, he received the National Merit Scholarship in 2019, per WAVE . He also earned the Gates Scholarship as a high school student at Corydon Central High School in Corydon, Ind. Related: Death of Missing Princeton University Student Misrach Ewunetie Ruled a Suicide “I’m very grateful and feel very blessed,” Blackburn told the outlet at the time.
“Princeton will allow me to study anything and get a world class education in anything.” Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The student's death is the third undergraduate passing in three years, and the seventh since 2021.
All six undergraduate deaths before Blackburn’s have been ruled suicides, The Daily Princetonian reported. An investigation into his death is ongoing. Blackburn's cause of death has not been confirmed.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org . Read the original article on People.
