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Middlebury College Mourns Diver Lia Smith's Tragic Death

1/5/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Lia Smith, a Middlebury College senior and diver known for her vibrant personality, vanished on a Friday night in mid-October in rural Vermont, triggering a large search by hundreds of students, friends, and police.
After six days of searching, authorities discovered Smith's body and ruled her death a suicide, noting she left no note.
The community mourns her loss, reflecting on the impact she had on those around her.

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Story summary

Lia Smith, a Middlebury College senior and diver known for her vibrant personality, vanished on a Friday night in mid-October in rural Vermont, triggering a large search by hundreds of students, friends, and police.
After six days of searching, authorities discovered Smith's body and ruled her death a suicide, noting she left no note.
The community mourns her loss, reflecting on the impact she had on those around her.