A body has been found during the search for missing Vermont college student Leah Smith

A body has been found during a search for a missing Vermont college student who was last seen on campus about a week ago.

Leah Smith, 21, was last seen on the Middlebury College campus the night of Oct. 19 and was reported missing Sunday, the school posted on its website. Facebook.

On Thursday, Vermont State Police and rescue crews found a body around 1:30 p.m. in a field west of the Middlebury College campus, the Middlebury Police Department said. Announce.

The remains were discovered near the college’s organic farm known as The Knoll.

State police said they had opened an investigation into the death.

The remains are being sent to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Burlington for an autopsy on Friday to confirm the identity and determine how the person died.

“The preliminary investigation does not indicate that the death is suspicious,” the Middlebury Police Department said.

Middlebury College President Ian Baucom said in a statement on Monday Instagram Thursday that the college is “doing everything we can to support our community at this time.”

“This is devastating news, and we are doing everything we can to support our community now,” Baucom said, noting that the school will keep the community informed as new details emerge.

“I know it is extremely difficult to receive this news as we continue to hold Leah and all of her family and friends in our hearts. As always, please take care of yourselves and each other.”

A massive search operation has been launched to locate the missing student, using drones and targeted ground searches in wooded areas on and around the Middlebury College campus.

College staff are also checking all campus buildings during the search, the school said.

The Vermont State Police Victim Services Unit is assisting the Smith family, while the Middlebury Police Department is receiving additional support from the FBI and New York State Police.

More than 600 Middlebury College students also joined GroupMe to share updates about the research, NBC 5 I mentioned.

“I feel like everyone has an obligation to show everyone who is not part of the Middlebury community how we show up for our community,” Leo Smith, a freshman at the college, told the outlet.

“We’re a really small community,” Lucy Schember added.

“Even if you don’t know someone personally, you certainly know someone who does — and you’ve certainly seen them around. It’s very upsetting for someone who’s supposed to be here not to be.”

The Vermont State Police and Middlebury Police Department expressed their appreciation to federal, state and local partners — and to college employees and volunteers — for their support during the search for Smith over the past week.