Body of Dartmouth graduate student recovered from Connecticut River

Shawne Wickham, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
Updated ·2 min read

May 21—The body of a Dartmouth College graduate student from China, missing since May 15, was recovered from the Connecticut River Monday evening.

Authorities say a preliminary investigation has revealed no evidence of foul play in the death of Kexin Cai, 26.

A Dartmouth College official called the news "devastating."

Cai had last been seen last Wednesday when she left her residence on an E-bike, according to a news release from Lebanon police. Video from surrounding businesses showed her heading south on Route 10 towards West Lebanon that evening.

Searchers from multiple agencies and the Dartmouth College community looked for the missing student. After an E-bike was found on Monday at the Boston Lot, searchers concentrated on that area adjoining Wilder Dam.

A fisherman contacted authorities around 4 p.m. Monday for a possible body in the river near Windsor, Vermont. Rescue personnel recovered a woman's body, later identified as Cai.

In a statement, Jon Kull, dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth, called Cai "an exceptionally gifted and humble researcher with a genuinely sweet personality."

"She loved cats so much that she would sneak images of them into every poster or presentation," Kull said. "Kexin loved the Upper Valley. Here, she discovered the joys of hiking, skiing and road trips."

A Chinese national, Cai was a second-year doctoral student in psychological and brain sciences with a special interest in communication challenges in autism, Kull said.

On behalf of the college community, he extended condolences to the student's family, friends and loved ones. He also thanked the many students and staff who joined law enforcement officers in searching for Cai.

Dartmouth plans to hold an event where the community can gather to remember Cai, Kull said.

He also urged students to contact the Dartmouth Counseling Center if they need help dealing with their grief, by calling 603-646-9442, or Uhelp at 833-646-1526. The college's Department of Safety and Security is also available for immediate assistance at 603-646-4000.