This story originally ran in Them.
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Lia Smith, a transgender student at Middlebury College in Vermont, has been confirmed dead by local authorities. Smith had been an active member of student life as a former diver on the women’s swimming and diving team, a member of the chess club, and “an articulate advocate of transgender rights,” per a message from Middlebury president Ian Baucom.
Smith, 21, had been reported missing by her father on October 19. The double major in computer science and statistics had been seen on campus at Middlebury two days prior at approximately 9:00 pm, according to the school. Aerial drones and multiple ground searches were a part of the recovery operation. On Tuesday, October 21, student volunteers worked with the college’s public safety team to set up search parties, according to the student newspaper.
On October 23, Vermont State Police announced in a release that its search and rescue team had found a body in the town of Cornwall near The Knoll, Middlebury College’s organic farm. The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office has now confirmed the body to be Smith and determined that she died by suicide.
“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 Sith,” Baucom wrote in a statement. “They continue to confirm there is no suspicion of foul play.
“I have spoken with Lia’s family to express my heart break,” Baucom continued. “As president, and far more as a fellow parent, I ache for them. This is a profound loss that nobody should have to endure.”
In February, Smith sat on a panel titled “Trans Healthcare is NOT a Debate!” The event was a protest of sorts over the college’s hosting of a talk entitled “What is the Right Approach to Public Policy and Transgender Medicine?” featuring Leo Sapir and Brianna Wu. The moderator’s for Smith’s panel criticized the “Right Approach” event in a statement: “Middlebury College does not need to platform pseudoscience. It doesn’t platform flat earthers or anti-vaxxers,” they wrote, according to the student newspaper.
“Know that there are people in your community that are here for you and care about you,” Smith said on the panel, addressing other trans students.
