Missing Princeton Student Lauren Blackburn Found Dead at Lake Carnegie


Indiana native was a National Merit Scholar and student journalist at Princeton

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton University community is mourning the tragic loss of Lauren Blackburn, a 23-year-old undergraduate student who was reported missing on April 19 and was found dead near Lake Carnegie on April 25, according to the university’s Department of Public Safety.

Blackburn was last seen around 6 p.m. ET near Firestone Library on campus. His cellphone was later traced to the area surrounding Lake Carnegie, a reservoir adjacent to Princeton’s Ivy League campus, prompting focused search efforts by law enforcement and volunteers.

Remembering Lauren Blackburn

Blackburn, originally from Indiana, was recognized as one of 2,500 National Merit Scholarship recipients in 2019. He was also a former staff writer for The Daily Princetonian, the student-run newspaper at Princeton.

Kate Robinson, Blackburn’s former English teacher at Corydon Central High School, once said:

“He can read a book and know everything in it… I’m pretty sure he has a photographic memory.”

The university community and friends were deeply impacted by his disappearance and subsequent death. In a statement, Princeton’s Vice President for Student Life W. Rochelle Calhoun wrote:

“Please hold Lauren in your thoughts as we attempt to locate him.”

Following the discovery, Princeton’s Department of Public Safety shared,

“Our hearts are heavy and we share our deepest condolences with Lauren’s family and friends.”

Investigation Ongoing

Authorities have not confirmed whether foul play is suspected. As of now, no official cause of death has been released. USA TODAY has reached out to Princeton University for comment but has not received a response.


Location: United States

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