Lebanon, New Hampshire – The body of a missing Dartmouth College student was discovered in the Connecticut River following an extensive search. Kexin Cai, 26, of West Lebanon, New Hampshire, was last seen near Drake Lane on Wednesday, May 15, as reported by the Lebanon Police Department on Friday, May 17. On Monday, May 20, a fisherman alerted the authorities to a body in the river in Windsor, Vermont. The body was later confirmed to be that of Kexin Cai.
Law enforcement officials have stated that there are no indications of foul play in connection with Cai’s death.
Cai, a graduate student in the Mutual Understanding Lab at Dartmouth College, was a second-year doctoral student in the department of psychological and brain sciences. Her research focused on communication challenges among individuals with autism, according to Jon Kull, Dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth.
Kristian Droste, Cai’s partner, revealed that she had sought help at Dick’s House, the health service facility at Dartmouth College, for a mental health crisis on May 13. She was later transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where she was released on May 15, the same day she was last seen. Droste described Cai as having a contagious laugh and often singing in another language. He praised her for her dedication to her family and loved ones.
The loss of Kexin Cai has left family, friends, and the Dartmouth College community devastated. Dean Jon Kull described her as a remarkable researcher and an individual with a deep affection for cats, often incorporating images of them into her work.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Kexin Cai’s death will continue, as authorities work to bring closure to the case.