Missing Princeton University student Misrach Ewunetie found dead after week-long search

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Missing Princeton University student Misrach Ewunetie was found dead Thursday, six days after she vanished on her way home from an event. Police confirmed that the 20-year-old’s body was found near the edge of the Ivy League campus. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said Thursday afternoon that an employee discovered her body “outside on the Facilities grounds” near the tennis courts. Prosecutors said in a statement: “There were no obvious signs of injury and her death does not appear suspicious or criminal in nature.”

The high-achieving student was last seen near the Scully Hall dorm building around 3 a.m. on Oct. 14. Her brother said her phone had pinged near an off-campus housing complex about a 30 minute walk from her dorm before it went silent. Police scoured the housing complex three times with no luck, and school officials had sent out multiple alerts urging anyone with information on her disappearance to come forward.

Ewunetie’s family, who are originally from Ethiopia and now live in Ohio, alerted authorities on Saturday after they learned she’d missed an appointment for her US citizenship application. The family reported “they had not heard from her in several days,” and asked that officers perform a wellness check.

Police are urging anyone with information in the case to contact the Department of Public Safety at 609-258-1000.

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