Helicopter, Watercraft Used in Search for Missing Princeton Student

The University announced Wednesday increased law enforcement on and around campus as it expands efforts to locate a missing undergraduate student.

Misrach Ewunetie ’24, 20, was reported missing on Monday evening by the University’s Department of Public Safety. The alert said she was last seen at about 3 a.m. on Friday in the vicinity of Scully Hall, where she lives.

Anne Caswell-Klein *04, dean of New College West, Ewunetie’s residential college, sent an email to students there on Monday night, saying Ewunetie had not been in touch with family or friends for several days.

Wednesday’s alert from the University said law enforcement would be searching with a helicopter, drones, and watercraft. Officials were gathered by the boathouse at Lake Carnegie throughout the day. Crews from at least two television stations were set up over the lake on the Washington Road bridge at around 11:30 a.m.

“I think from the friends that are here on campus that I’ve gotten to speak with, people are very shocked and disconcerted," said Andres Larrieu ’23, a Scully Hall resident. "I was even like a little freaked out about getting a snack last night at Wawa.”

Anyone with information regarding Ewunetie has been directed to contact the Department of Public Safety at 609-258-1000.

She is described as 5-foot-4 and 130 pounds, with brown eyes and a light brown complexion.

“I cannot explain, it’s a nightmare that I cannot wake up from,” Ewunetie’s brother, Universe, 30, told the U.S. Sun.

Universe Ewunetie said his sister did not appear at a scheduled interview Saturday morning and that she was last seen returning to Scully Hall from Terrace Club early Friday. 

“With the pandemic, the first year they were not on campus, so that was difficult for her and for a lot of people,” he said. “But this year she’s been trying to get in this Terrace Club, and that was her way of making friends.”

According to 19 News, a TV station in Cleveland, Ewunetie is a 2020 graduate of Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School and was the class valedictorian. 

“The Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School community learned today of a report that Misrach Ewunetie, a 2020 honors graduate, was missing from the Princeton University campus. We are praying for her swift and safe return,” the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland told 19 News in a statement.

This story will be updated with any new information about the search.