A Princeton student disappeared after leaving a library. Days later, crews are searching near a lake where a phone pinged
A Princeton University student has reportedly gone missing after he was last seen leaving a campus library.
The university's Department of Public Safety is seeking information on the whereabouts of 23-year-old Lauren Blackburn.
The junior — expected to graduate in 2026 — was reportedly last seen around 6pm on Saturday leaving the Firestone Library.
The university said Blackburn is 6'2, with brown hair, brown eyes, and that he weighs approximately 170 pounds.
He was last seen wearing blue jeans with torn knees, a yellow t-shirt with a black, zippered hoodie, and blue flat-bottomed shoes, according to investigators.
Around midnight on Tuesday, police began searching Lake Carnegie for any sign of Blackburn after a missing person's phone pinged in the area. It is not immediately clear if the phone belongs to the missing student.
Lake Carnegie is on the campus and is used by Princeton University's rowing team.
Along with the water search, Hamilton Township police used dogs, drones, and sonar to assist with the search, according to ABC6.
According to the University Herald, Blackburn is a 2019 National Merit Scholar and Gates Scholar, who earned a full ride scholarship to Princeton.
The college's student newspaper, The Daily Princetonian, who Blackburn used to write for, reported that an alert was sent to the school's community on Tuesday stating the undergraduate was missing. Later that day, Vice President for Student Life W. Rochelle Calhoun sent a follow up email saying told that support was available for concerned students.
'I will share an update when we know more, but in the meantime please hold Lauren in your thoughts as we attempt to locate him,' she wrote.
"I hope that he's found soon and I hope that he's totally fine. But it's freaky, especially during this period where things are up in the air and nobody has any information," senior student Ryan Hoffman told ABC6.
Officials at the school warned students they may see an increased police presence on campus while investigators continue to search for Blackburn.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Watch: Woman ‘hauling mattresses' arrested after police find 25 migrants hiding in truck
This is the moment Texas police discovered over two dozen undocumented migrants 'crammed' into a truck during a crash investigation. After being stopped over a minor crash, Silvia Patricia Santamaria, told Department of Public Safety troopers she was driving to Houston after picking up two mattresses in Alton. Body cam shows the trooper relaying the information to another officer, appearing to be suspicious of her story. The officers then find 25 illegal immigrants they described as being 'crammed inside a small corner of the box truck', hiding behind mattresses: 12 males, 12 females, and one 11-year-old child. All were given a medical evaluation before being referred to US Border Patrol. Santamaria was arrested and charged with 25 counts of smuggling.
Edinburgh Live
a day ago
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh van driver killed top academic after mounting kerb while looking at phone
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An Edinburgh van driver under the influence of cannabis killed a leading academic out walking in the street. Darren Gilmour, 42, had also been occupied with his mobile phone when he hit Dr William Noel after mounting the kerb in Trinity Crescent, Edinburgh on April 10 2024. Dr Noel tragically never recovered and died a fortnight later in hospital. The 58-year-old had been visiting the capital to purchase rare books for Princeton University in Pennsylvania in the USA, where he was the Associate Librarian for Special Collections. Gilmour pleaded guilty to the causing the death of the Cambridge University graduate by dangerous driving on Friday. He will be sentenced next month. Dr Noel - originally from Yorkshire - had been with two colleagues during the visit to Scotland. The trio had been walking on the pavement back to their hotel when tragedy struck around 6pm that evening. Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC told the High Court in Glasgow: "As Gilmour drove his Citroen Relay van, he was under the influence of cannabis and was interacting with his telephone, which was not connected to a hands-free system. (Image: University of Cambridge) "He failed to pay attention to the road ahead causing the vehicle to leave the road in the direction of WIlliam Noel and his companions." The advocate depute added the van went up onto the pavement, initially clipped one of the academic's friends before hitting Dr Noel from behind. He was lifted onto the bonnet, struck the windscreen before landing on the ground. An off-duty doctor out walking her dog as well as a passing nurse immediately ran to help. Dr Noel was then rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The victim's wife back in Pennsylvania was contacted and she flew over to Scotland to be with her husband. Dr Noel's brother also arrived from London. But, on April 29, he sadly passed away due to suffering severe head trauma as a result of the collision. The court heard cabinet maker Gilmour had been found to have 2.4mg of THC from cannabis use per one litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mg. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages Gilmour's KC Tony Graham said on Friday: "If he could do anything to take back what happened on that date, he would, but, of course, he cannot. "He appreciates words uttered may seem cheap, but he does offer an apology to those bereaved." Gilmour, of Dalkeith, Midlothian, had been on bail, but Mr Graham did not move for that to be continued. Lord Cubie remanded him in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports. The judge: "Nothing the court can say can possibly compensate the loss caused. "This offence appears to have arisen as a direct consequence of your lack of concentration, more concerned with your mobile phone than the road and potentially affected by drug consumption." Dr Noel specialised in the study of Medieval and Renaissance European books. He was described in court as a "highly regarded academic" and "very well known" having hosted TED talks and many public speaking events. Dr Noel had also previously been honoured by the Obama administration for his commitment to open science. end
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Van driver admits causing crash which killed academic William Noel
Dr Noel tragically never recovered and died a fortnight later in hospital. The 58 year-old had been visiting the capital to purchase rare books for Princeton University in Pennsylvania in the USA, where he was the Associate Librarian for Special Collections. Gilmour today pleaded guilty to the causing the death of the Cambridge University graduate by dangerous driving. He will be sentenced next month. Dr Noel - originally from Yorkshire - had been with two colleagues during the visit to Scotland. The trio had been walking on the pavement back to their hotel when tragedy struck around 6pm that evening. William Noel (Image: NQ) Prosecutor Alex Prentice KC told the High Court in Glasgow: "As Gilmour drove his Citroen Relay van, he was under the influence of cannabis and was interacting with his telephone, which was not connected to a hands-free system. "He failed to pay attention to the road ahead causing the vehicle to leave the road in the direction of WIlliam Noel and his companions." The advocate depute added the van went up onto the pavement, initially clipped one of the academic's friends before hitting Dr Noel from behind. He was lifted onto the bonnet, struck the windscreen before landing on the ground. An off-duty doctor out walking her dog as well as a passing nurse immediately ran to help. Dr Noel was then rushed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. The victim's wife back in Pennsylvania was contacted and she flew over to Scotland to be with her husband. Dr Noel's brother also arrived from London. But, on April 29, he sadly passed away due to suffering severe head trauma as a result of the collision. The court heard cabinet maker Gilmour had been found to have 2.4mg of THC from cannabis use per one litre of blood. The legal limit is 2mg. Gilmour's KC Tony Graham today/yesterday said: "If he could do anything to take back what happened on that date, he would, but, of course, he cannot. "He appreciates words uttered may seem cheap, but he does offer an apology to those bereaved." READ MORE: Gilmour, of Dalkeith, Midlothian, had been on bail, but Mr Graham did not move for that to be continued. Lord Cubie remanded him in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports. The judge: "Nothing the court can say can possibly compensate the loss caused. "This offence appears to have arisen as a direct consequence of your lack of concentration, more concerned with your mobile phone than the road and potentially affected by drug consumption." Dr Noel specialised in the study of Medieval and Renaissance European books. He was described in court as a "highly regarded academic" and "very well known" having hosted TED talks and many public speaking events. Dr Noel had also previously been honoured by the Obama administration for his commitment to open science.
