PRINCETON, N.J. (1010 WINS) — The Princeton University undergraduate student who vanished near her dorm last week has been found dead, the Mercer County prosecutor's office announced Thursday.
The body of Misrach Ewunetie, 20, was found outside on the facilities grounds behind the school's tennis courts around 1 p.m. by a facilities employee, prosecutors said.
Ewunetie, a junior at the Ivy League school, had last been seen at about 3 a.m. last Friday near Scully Hall, a residential building where she lived, the university said Tuesday.
Her cause of death will be determined by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner's Office, but the office said in its news release that there were no "signs of injury and her death does not appear suspicious or criminal in nature."
The school community was first informed of the junior's disappearance on Monday. On Thursday morning, campus safety told students that they should expect to see an increased law enforcement presence on and around campus including the use of a helicopter, drones and watercraft.
Her distraught brother, Universe Ewunetie, told 1010 WINS' Newsline with Brigitte Quinn hours before the discovery was found that the family had "more questions than answers" and had been in the "dark" as the search intensified.
"She's very sweet, caring, beautiful young girl," he described her.
Anne Caswell-Klein, the Dean of New College West, told NCW members via email that Ewunetie had "not been in touch with her family or friends in several days," according to The Daily Princetonian, the school's newspaper.
The search for Ewunetie came as many students were off campus for fall break, the paper added.
The university called the news of her death "heartbreaking" in a tweet Thursday.
"Misrach's death is an unthinkable tragedy," said W. Rochelle Calhoun, Vice President for Campus Life, in the letter to students and staff. "Our hearts go out to her family, her friends and the many others who knew and loved her."
The letter said that the university is also "planning an opportunity for students to join together and remember Misrach." Information about the event will be shared at a later time.
The university noted that it "does not believe there is any related threat to campus or the surrounding area" and urged members of the community impacted to contact support, guidance and counsel resources.
"Princeton is a close-knit community, and we mourn Misrach together," the letter added.
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