Body discovered in Vermont while searching for missing college student Lia Smith.

A body was discovered on Thursday during the ongoing search for missing Middlebury College student Lia Smith, according to reports from Vermont State Police. The grim finding occurred around 1:30 PM in a field situated west of the college campus, adjacent to the school’s organic farm known as The Knoll.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the body belongs to Smith. The remains have been sent to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy, which aims to establish the identity and the cause of death. This examination is scheduled to take place on Friday.

Preliminary reports from law enforcement officials suggest that there are no indications of foul play linked to her death. A press conference that was intended to provide updates on the search efforts was abruptly canceled following the discovery of the body, highlighting the sensitivity of the situation.

The investigation into Smith’s case involves collaboration among multiple agencies, including the Middlebury Police Department and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and New York State Police joined the search efforts on Wednesday to lend their support.

Lia Smith, a 21-year-old from Woodside, California, was last spotted on the Middlebury campus on Friday evening around 9 PM. Her disappearance was reported on Sunday when her father was unable to reach her by phone, and her friends indicated that they had not seen her throughout the weekend.

The Vermont State Police Victim Services Unit is providing assistance to Lia’s family during this challenging time. For identification purposes, police have described Smith as standing 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

In addition to her academic pursuits as a double major in computer science and statistics, Smith was an active member of the chess and women in computer science clubs and also participated in the school’s swimming and diving team, according to local reports.

As investigations continue, the community remains hopeful for further clarity regarding this distressing situation. Media News Source will provide updates as more information becomes available.