The body of Princeton University junior Lauren Blackburn was found in Lake Carnegie on Friday morning, April 25, 2025, concluding a nearly week-long search for the 23-year-old student.
Blackburn, an English major at the renowned New Jersey institution, was last seen near the university’s Firestone Library around 6 p.m. on April 19. The school issued a campus-wide alert on Tuesday, April 22, to report him missing.
“I am deeply saddened to share with you that the body of Lauren Blackburn ’26 was found at Lake Carnegie this morning. Our hearts are heavy and we share our deepest condolences with Lauren’s family and friends,” wrote Dean of Undergraduate Students Regan Crotty in a message to the university community.
Authorities traced Blackburn’s phone signal near the man-made reservoir around midnight on Tuesday, which led to the initiation of a water search. His body was found three days later.
Lake Carnegie is located just south of Princeton’s campus, adjacent to the university’s athletic facilities, and is about a mile from the library where Blackburn was last observed. The reservoir covers 263 acres and has a consistent depth of nine feet at a 35-foot distance from the shore.
The lake was a contribution from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, built at an expense of $450,000 in the early 20th century, equivalent to around $9.5 million today, according to university archives.
Princeton’s Department of Safety confirmed the recovery of Blackburn’s body but did not immediately disclose the cause of death. The investigation was carried out by the Department of Public Safety with support from regional law enforcement entities.
Blackburn, who had served as a features writer for the Daily Princetonian, was recently honored with the 2024 Sam Hutton Fund for the Arts, a prestigious award granted to one student annually in the Lewis Center for the Arts to aid in summer study, travel, and independent research.
Prior to his time at Princeton, Blackburn graduated from Corydon Central High School in southern Indiana, where he excelled academically. In 2019, as a high school senior, he received both a National Merit Scholarship and a Gates Scholarship.
Blackburn’s high school teachers recalled his outstanding academic strengths and personal attributes. English teacher Kate Robinson mentioned Blackburn’s seemingly photographic memory, noting to local media that he could read a book and remember everything. Science teacher Karen York highlighted his kindness, stating she never heard him speak ill of anyone.
Blackburn’s academic path led him to Princeton, where he was anticipated to graduate in 2026.
The search for Blackburn intensified after his disappearance, focusing on Lake Carnegie following the discovery of his phone’s location data.
Campus publications report that Blackburn’s death is the sixth undergraduate student death at Princeton since 2021. Previous student deaths in this timeframe were ruled as suicides.
Princeton University has faced what some characterize as a troubling pattern of student deaths in recent years. Reports suggest that up to nine Princeton students have died since 2021, with causes classified differently.
The university has not provided further details about the circumstances of Blackburn’s disappearance or death. Counseling and support services have been offered to students, faculty, and staff as they cope with this loss within the campus community.
Funeral and memorial arrangements for Blackburn have yet to be announced by either the university or his family.