The body of a missing Princeton University student was discovered by a university facilities employee near campus tennis courts early Thursday afternoon following a days-long frantic search.

Princeton junior Misrach Ewunetie, 20, was found around 1 p.m. outside on the leafy  Facilities grounds behind the tennis courts, according to Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri.

Misrach Ewunetie
Misrach Ewunetie (Princeton University Department of Public Safety)
loading...

There appeared to be no signs of injury and her death does not appear to be suspicious. Authorities, however, did not say whether the death was accidental or the result of a suicide.

Onofri said an autopsy by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine Ewunetie’s cause and manner of death.

There was a large police presence Thursday for a second day around Lake Carnegie looking for the 20-year-old junior who was last seen around 3 a.m. Friday outside her residence hall. The night before she had been at the Terrace Hall eating club, the Princeton version of fraternities and sororities.

Google Maps
Google Maps
loading...

Terrace Club President Alexander Maravcsik told The Daily Princetonian she was working Thursday night during a live music night.

Her family had called the school for a wellness check on Sunday after they had not heard from her for a few days, W. Rochelle Calhoun, vice president for campus life said in an email to the campus community.

Search at Lake Carnegie near Princeton University 10/20/22
Search at Lake Carnegie near Princeton University 10/20/22 (Brian McCarthy, MidJersey.news)
loading...

Her brother, Universe Ewunetie, told CNN that his family believed law enforcement had kept his family in the dark about their investigation except to say that searches take time.

“That’s one thing we don’t have, we don’t have time,” Universe Ewunetie said before the tragic discovery.

Gov. Phil Murphy tweeted Thursday that the Attorney General's office, Mercer County Prosecutor's Office and State Police are doing everything they can to find Misrach Ewunetie.

"We’re praying for her swift and safe return," the governor tweeted.

Universe Ewunetie told the U.S. Sun that the family came to the United States from Ethiopia in 2008 and lived in Ohio. The family was not happy she chose to attend Princeton because it was so far away.

Dan Alexander is a reporter for New Jersey 101.5. You can reach him at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com

Click here to contact an editor about feedback or a correction for this story.

How is it still standing? Look inside the oldest home for sale in NJ

New Jersey's oldest house is located on Gloucester County and dates back to the 1600's

25 costliest hurricanes of all time

Although the full extent of damage caused by Hurricane Ian in the Southwest is still being realized, Ian is already being called one of the costliest storms to ever hit the U.S. Stacker took a look at NOAA data to extrapolate the costliest U.S. hurricanes of all time.  

States with the most registered hunters

Stacker analyzed data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine which states have the most registered hunters. Read on to see how your state ranks on Stacker’s list.

More From Beach Radio