
Princeton University Student Found Deceased Near Campus Lake
Princeton, NJ – April 25, 2025 – The Princeton University community is mourning the loss of Lauren Blackburn, a 23-year-old undergraduate student whose body was discovered at Lake Carnegie this morning after a six-day search. University officials confirmed the tragic development in a social media statement, expressing profound grief over the promising student’s untimely death.
Key Details of the Case
- Last Seen: April 19 around 6 p.m. near Firestone Library on Princeton’s campus.
- Search Efforts: Authorities focused on Lake Carnegie after tracing Blackburn’s cellphone signals to the area.
- Cause of Death: Undetermined; investigations are ongoing. Foul play has not been confirmed.
Remembering Lauren Blackburn

A native of Indiana, Blackburn was a gifted scholar and former staff writer for The Daily Princetonian, Princeton’s student-run newspaper. In 2019, he was named a National Merit Scholar—an honor awarded to only 2,500 students nationwide.
“Lauren had an extraordinary mind. He could absorb information like few others,” said Kate Robinson, his former English teacher at Corydon Central High School. “This is an unimaginable loss.”
University Response

Princeton’s Vice President for Student Life, W. Rochelle Calhoun, urged the campus community to keep Blackburn’s family in their thoughts, writing: “Our hearts are heavy. We share our deepest condolences with those who knew and loved Lauren.”
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities have not released further details but assure the public that updates will follow as the case develops.
For those affected by this tragedy, Princeton has made counseling services available to students and staff.
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“Princeton University mourns Lauren Blackburn, a 23-year-old student found dead at Lake Carnegie after a weeklong search. Officials urge privacy as investigations continue.”
source USA TODAY