Two missing Dartmouth College students, Won Jang and Kexin Cai, have been found dead in the Connecticut River since May. The circumstances surrounding their deaths are still under investigation, but authorities do not suspect foul play.
Two missing Dartmouth College students, Won Jang and Kexin Cai, have been found dead in the Connecticut River since May, leaving the campus and surrounding community in mourning.
Jang, a 20-year-old student, was last seen around 9:30 p.m. on July 6 while attending an informal social gathering at docks near the Dartmouth boathouse on the Connecticut River. Cai, a 26-year-old doctoral student, was last seen on May 15 leaving her residence in Lebanon, New Hampshire, on an e-bike.
Tragedy Strikes Dartmouth: Two Students Found Deceased in Connecticut River
On July 7, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division announced that they had found Jang's body in the Connecticut River, about 65 feet from the shore. Dartmouth College officials confirmed the identification of the body.
While Jang's cause of death is still undetermined, Hanover police do not suspect any foul play. They are, however, looking into any potential hazing incidents.
Tragedy Strikes Dartmouth: Two Students Found Deceased in Connecticut River
Cai's body was spotted by a fisherman in Vermont on May 21, about 60 miles north of Lebanon. The person who reported Cai missing to the Lebanon Police Department said she was last seen leaving her residence in an unknown direction on an e-bike on the afternoon of May 15.
Police do not suspect there was any foul play involved in Cai's death. Cai, a Chinese native, reportedly admitted herself to the campus medical clinic prior to her disappearance because she was experiencing a mental health crisis.
Tragedy Strikes Dartmouth: Two Students Found Deceased in Connecticut River
Dartmouth College officials expressed their condolences to the families of both Jang and Cai.
"The entire Dartmouth community is deeply saddened by the loss of these two bright and promising students," said Jon Kull, dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. "Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends during this difficult time."
Tragedy Strikes Dartmouth: Two Students Found Deceased in Connecticut River
The deaths of Jang and Cai have raised concerns about the safety of students who engage in recreational activities on the Connecticut River. Dartmouth College officials are urging students to be aware of the dangers associated with swimming and boating in the river.
The university is also offering counseling services to students who are struggling with grief or anxiety about the deaths of their fellow students.
Tragedy Strikes Dartmouth: Two Students Found Deceased in Connecticut River
