21-year-old trans student Lia Smith took her own life, say police

A trans college student whose body was identified last week, took her own life, a medical examiner has ruled.

Middlebury College student Lia Smith, 21, was last seen on the campus in Vermont on the evening of 17 October and was reported missing by her father two days later. The Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team used aerial drones to try to locate her, while fellow students volunteered to help.

Her body was discovered on Thursday (23 October) in a field in the town of Cornwall near The Knoll, the college’s organic farm, and the medical examiner ruled her death a suicide the following day.

Smith was a senior who was double-majoring in computer science and statistics and was a former member of the women’s swimming and diving team as well of several university clubs.

College president Ian Baucom said: “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.” The Student Affairs team had been “offering compassionate support to Lia’s family, friends and students across our community”, he added, before thanking the police and volunteers for their help.

“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 team, a member of our chess and Japanese clubs, and an articulate advocate of transgender rights.

“Her academic interests were broad, and she was a gift to us and we are so grateful that she was, and will always remain, a member of our Middlebury family. I know that this is a wrenching time. Please continue to extend care and compassion to one another and to yourselves.”

An opportunity for students and staff to “to gather and remember Lia” will be organised on campus, with details to come.

In the comments of a Facebook post shared by the university announcing Smith’s death, one person wrote: “My daughter was a senior when Lia joined the swim team as a freshman. I didn’t know Lia personally, [but] as a college diver myself, I always enjoyed watching Lia and her fellow divers compete.

“Lia was a member of my daughter’s swim family. I asked her what she would remember most about Lia. She didn’t hesitate: her wicked sense of humour, gosh she could make me laugh.”

Another person said: “Lia was an amazing friend to our daughter and an incredible human. We all adored her, our hearts are broken. Can’t imagine the grief her family is dealing with.”

Someone else said: “I’m so terribly sorry to hear of her loss. I found my start on that same campus. She sounds like an amazing person.”

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