Logo for Middlebury Middlebury Middlebury

Updates on Missing Student

Announcements

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25

Dear Middlebury Community,

With deep sorrow, I write to share that in a press release issued last night, the Vermont State Police have now confirmed the identity of the person found near campus on Thursday as Lia Smith. They continue to confirm there is no suspicion of foul play.

I have spoken with Lia’s family to express my heartbreak. As president, and far more as a fellow parent, I ache for them. This is a profound loss that nobody should have to endure. 

As we mourn, I want to express my deep appreciation for the efforts of our Student Affairs staff who have been offering such compassionate support to Lia’s family, friends, and students across our community. We will continue to support them in every way possible.

I’d also like to share my immense gratitude to the Middlebury Police Department for leading the investigation and to all the volunteers and agencies that helped in the search, including the Vermont State Police. I am profoundly grateful to our Public Safety team who I know poured their hearts into the search for Lia.

Over the past few days, I have learned what a remarkable person Lia was. She came to Middlebury from Woodside, California, where she attended Sacred Heart Preparatory School. She was a diver on our Women’s Swimming and Diving team, a member of our Chess and Japanese clubs, and an articulate advocate of transgender rights. Her academic interests were broad, and she was pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics. She was a gift to us and we are so grateful that she was–and will always remain–a member of our Middlebury family.

In the coming days, we will be planning opportunities for our campus community to gather and remember Lia, and we will keep you informed as those plans take shape.

I know that this is a wrenching time. Please continue to extend care and compassion to one another and to yourselves.

Ian

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

As you may have heard already, the Middlebury Police Department and Vermont State Police issued a press release this evening sharing that in their search for our student, Lia Smith, they have found a body near the western edge of campus. They are not yet confirming the identity of the person found. The press release is here.

This is incredibly saddening news, and we are working to support our community in every way we can at this difficult time.

We are in close contact with investigators and will continue to be so overnight and into tomorrow. We will share further information and a fuller communication with our community as soon as we have any updates.

I know that this is extraordinarily difficult news to receive as we continue to hold Lia and all her family and friends tight in our hearts. As ever, please care for yourselves and one another.

Ian

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students,

We write to share an update and information related to the ongoing search for our student Lia Smith ’26, who was last seen on campus on Friday, October 17. 

Today, The Middlebury Police Department (MPD) and Vermont State Police (VSP) shared the following joint news release. We are including it in its entirety so that our community has the most complete information available.

News Release:

MIDDLEBURY, Vermont (Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025) — At the request of the Middlebury Police Department, the Vermont State Police will activate its Search and Rescue Team and other resources to join the ongoing search for missing Middlebury College student Lia Smith, 21, of California.

The first full-scale search involving the VSP team will take place Thursday, Oct. 23. In addition, the state police’s Victim Services Unit is working closely with Lia’s family. Meanwhile, efforts led by the Middlebury Police Department to locate Lia are continuing.

To date, MPD has conducted numerous aerial searches using unmanned aircraft systems, also known as drones, coupled with focused ground searches. A larger-scale search was conducted Wednesday, Oct. 22, of wooded areas on and adjacent to the Middlebury College campus. At the request of MPD, college staff continue to search all campus facilities.

Wednesday’s ground search was conducted by members of the Middlebury Police Department, Middlebury Fire Department, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from the Swanton Sector. 

The investigation into Lia’s disappearance is active and ongoing. The Middlebury Police Department is receiving assistance from other law enforcement agencies, including VSP, the New York State Police, and the FBI.

Anyone with information about Lia or her whereabouts is asked to contact the Middlebury Police Department at 802-388-3191or submit an online tip at www.middleburypolice.org. People also can call the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven at 802-388-4919 or send an anonymous tip at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

No additional details are available at this time. The Vermont State Police and Middlebury Police Department will continue to provide updates as the investigation continues.

-end-

Opportunities to Gather and Connect

In addition to this update, we want to share information about ways for our community to come together or seek support collectively and individually. Please review this list and share with others.

  • Weekday Morning Sitting Meditation: Monday-Friday mornings from 8:30-8:45 a.m., Crest Room—15 minutes of silent meditation every weekday morning, led by various staff, faculty and students. No registration required. Drop in any day that works for you. 

  • Student Success Drop-In: Mondays 2-4 p.m., Class Dean Office Allen 153—Drop-in hours with staff from CARE Management, Class Deans and CTLR. 

  • Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life Drop-In: Tuesdays from 2-3:30 p.m., and Thursdays from 10-noon, Middlebury Chapel—Stop in to chat and enjoy a cup of hot tea with Dean of Spiritual and Religious Life Mark Orten.

  • The SlowDown: Wednesdays from 4:30-5:30 p.m., Crest Room—Come slow down with beads, collaging, watercolors, grown-up coloring books and more. Homemade hot chai and cookies are served.

  • Wednesday Open Mic—Wednesday 8:30 p.m., Gamut Room—A weekly open mic for students and community members to be in community and share music, comedy, poetry, karaoke, and vibes.

  • Student Success Drop-In: Thursdays 10-12 p.m., CARE Management Office Old Battell South 123—Drop-in hours with staff from CARE Management, Class Deans and CTLR.

  • Knots n’ Thoughts: Thursdays 3-5 p.m., CARE Management Office Old Battell South 123—An opportunity to connect with others while enjoying some crafting or other hobbies.  

  • Football Games at the Grille: Thursdays and Sundays, 7 p.m., Wilson Cafe—Join us every Thursday and Sunday to watch the football games at The Grille, and enjoy weekly menu specials. 

  • Karaoke at the Grille: Every Friday, 9-11 p.m., Wilson Cafe—Come sing your favorite songs at the weekly Friday Night Karaoke at The Grille.

Campus Resources

Below is the list of resources we shared with our community previously:

For Students

For Employees:

  • Scott Center Chaplains: 802-443-5626, or scottcenterstaff@middlebury.edu, Chaplains on Call access information. 

  • Employee and Family Assistance Program: 866-660-9533 (Visit InvestEAP Company Code: Middlebury College), is available 24/7 for faculty and staff and their immediate family members, and those residing in their homes to speak to a counselor, among other services.

  • Care Report: Employees concerned about a student can submit a Care Report at go/care which will be assessed each business day by Care Management staff. Employees can also access 24/7 consultation through TimelyCare’s customer assistance line at 833-484-6359 by pressing 2 and identifying themselves as a Middlebury employee. TimelyCare clinicians can help identify next steps, make referrals to on-campus resources, and engage campus emergency protocols if needed.

Sincerely,

Smita Ruzicka
Vice President for Student Affairs

Demitria Kirby
Associate Vice President of Safety

MONDAY, OCTOBER 20

Dear Middlebury Community,

We are writing this afternoon to share additional information and resources with our community following our Sunday night message to students, faculty, and staff about Lia Smith, a Middlebury College student who remains missing.

We are deeply grateful to all who have reached out to offer assistance. Your support means more than you know. We would also like to thank the Middlebury Police Department (MPD), which is leading this investigation, for the time, care, and attention they are dedicating to finding Lia. Our Department of Public Safety is working closely with MPD to assist them. Our Student Affairs team is offering support in the form of counseling services, group gatherings, and outreach to Lia’s family, friends, and other students, staff, and faculty.

Since we last wrote, Middlebury Police issued a statement with further details about Lia and their efforts to find her, and we wanted to share their statement with you:

“On 10/19/2025, at about 3:15 p.m., Lia Smith, age 21, of California, was reported missing to the Middlebury Police Department (MPD). Lia is a senior at Middlebury College and was last seen in a building on campus at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 10/17/2025. This investigation is active and ongoing. Searches thus far have included the use of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), commonly known as a drone. Investigators are working to identify additional potential search areas. A photograph of Lia is included as an attachment to this media release. She is 5’11”, approximately 160 lbs, with brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information about Lia or her whereabouts is asked to contact the Middlebury Police Department at 802-388-3191 or submit an online tip on our website, www.middleburypolice.org.”

We will do everything we can to find Lia. She is a beloved member of our Middlebury family and there is nothing more important than the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students and of our entire community. We know it can be difficult to experience this uncertainty and we will provide regular updates and share more information as it becomes available. 

We continue to focus on working with the police department to support their investigation and offering resources for our community. We have included below an updated list of resources for students and employees and ask that you review the information and share it with others as you see best. Thank you once again for your expressions of care and concern for Lia, her family, friends, and all our Middlebury community.

Sincerely,

Ian B. Baucom
President

Smita Ruzicka
Vice President for Student Affairs

Demitria Kirby
Associate Vice President of Safety

Support Resources

For Students:

For Employees:

  • Scott Center Chaplains: 802-443-5626, or scottcenterstaff@middlebury.edu, Chaplains on Call access information.
  • Employee and Family Assistance Program: 866-660-9533 (Company Code: Middlebury College), is available 24/7 for faculty and staff and their immediate family members, and those residing in their homes to speak to a counselor, among other services.
  • Employees concerned about a student can submit a Care Report at go.middlebury.edu/care which will be assessed each business day by Care Management staff. Employees can also access 24/7 consultation through TimelyCare’s customer assistance line at 833-484-6359 by pressing 2 and identifying themselves as a Middlebury employee. TimelyCare clinicians can help identify next steps, make referrals to on-campus resources, and engage campus emergency protocols if needed.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

We are writing to inform you that we have received information about a possible missing student. We are working closely with the Middlebury Police Department (MPD), which is investigating and collecting information at this time. We have been in touch with the student’s family and friends to offer support and learn all we can about the student’s recent activities and whereabouts.

MPD has posted an announcement to their Facebook page naming the student and asking that anyone with information contact the police department at 802-388-3191. You may also contact Middlebury College Public Safety at 802-443-5911. 

The post reads as follows: 

“The Middlebury Police Department is requesting assistance in locating Lia Smith, age 21, who was reported missing earlier today. Lia is a current Middlebury College student and was last seen on campus on October 17th, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m. 

Anyone with information about Lia or her whereabouts is asked to contact the Middlebury Police Department at 802-388-3191 or submit an online tip on our website (link in the comments).”

We will provide additional updates and share more information when we receive it. Our priority now is to work actively with the police department to support their investigation and to offer support resources to our students.

Sincerely,

Smita Ruzicka
Vice President for Student Affairs

Demitria Kirby
Associate Vice President of Safety

Office of Communications
Painter House
2 Court Street
Middlebury, VT 05753

Media Contacts

Contact Us