A 22 year-old student from the University of New Hampshire has been found dead n a wooded area 36 hours after going missing following a...
A 22 year-old student from the University of New Hampshire has been found dead n a wooded area 36 hours after going missing following a fight at a frat party his friends said was extremely out-of-character.
The body of 22-year-old Vincenzo Lirosi was found close to campus in a marshy area. Cops say they do not believe his death to have been suspicious.
Lirosi, who was known as 'Vinny' to his friends, had disappeared following a night of drinking at a fraternity party where he had been involved in a fight.
'It's pretty uncharacteristic of him,' friend Jordan Blanchard told WMUR. 'This is his first fight ever.' No further details on the disagreement, including what prompted it and whether it got physical, were shared.
Vincenzo Lirosi, 22, a University of New Hampshire student who went missing early Saturday morning, was found dead on Sunday afternoon
Lirosi located by a New England Search and Rescue K-9 team in a marshy area close to the campus
Durham police used a K-9 and thermal drone to search woods while New Hampshire State police and Fish and Game using a helicopter to search for him
Lirosi had attended a frat party at which he got into a fight and was told to go
After the punch-up in the early hours of Saturday morning, Lirosi was kicked out of the party.
'They kicked him out and told him to go home. That's when he went into the woods,' Blanchard explained.
The student was last seen walking along a wooden path often used by students at around 1am on Saturday. The route was a well-known shortcut that he would take to reach his home. He was reported missing two hours later at around 3am.
'We started to think how he would think, and we started walking through the woods on different trails,' Blanchard explained. 'We walked all the way to Jackson's Landing to see if he was over there, and we could not find anything.'
Vincenzo 'Vinny' Lirosi, left, is seen in Facebook photos posted by his mother, Robin Nichols Lirosi. He's seen with her and brother Giovanni 'Gio' Lirosi
The body of Lirosi, who was from Whitman, Massachusetts, was found around 1:20pm on Sunday.
Durham police used a K-9 and thermal drone to search woods while New Hampshire State police and Fish and Game using a helicopter to search for him.
Lirosi's wallet was found in a parking lot while his cellphone was found at the fraternity house.
'Though this is not the outcome we all had hoped for, we are grateful that we were able to find Vincenzo and bring some closure to his family, Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley said.
An autopsy will be conducted to determine how Lirosi died, with students at his college offered counseling services to help them cope with the shock.
'Though this is not the outcome we all had hoped for, we are grateful that we were able to find Vincenzo and bring some closure to his family, Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley said.
Vincenzo 'Vinny' Lirosi, right, was walking back to his residence after 1am with the alarm raised at 3am
On Sunday night, the university released a statement to students following the news.
'It is with very heavy hearts that we write to share that the search for Vincenzo Lirosi did not end as we had hoped. The university student was found in the wooded area off Coe Drive this afternoon. State & local authorities continue to investigate the cause of death but at this time it is not believed to be suspicious.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with Vincenzo's family & friends. This is a very sad day for our community and right now we are focused on providing the support and resources needed for everyone who knew him or is impacted by his death. We ask all faculty and staff to be considerate of students impacted by this tragedy and offer accommodations for assignments and attendance.
'A sudden death brings a range of feelings, especially shock and disbelief. Please take care of yourself and seek help if you need it,' the university wrote.
The cause and manner of Lirosi's death, right, will be determined after an autopsy although it is not thought to be suspicious
On Sunday night, the university released a statement to students following the tragic news
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