Princeton University student who disappeared on campus committed suicide, prosecutors say

The Princeton University student who disappeared on campus and was found dead in October has committed suicide, local prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The cause of death for 20-year-old Misrach Ewunetie was “bupropion, escitalopram, and hydroxyzine toxicity,” the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office he said Wednesday, revealing the autopsy results.

Bupropion and escitalopram are antidepressants, while hydroxyzine is an antihistamine used to help control anxiety and tension caused by nervous and emotional states, according to the mayo clinic.

The autopsy was performed by the Middlesex Regional Medical Examiner’s Office.

Princeton University said in a statement wednesday: “Our hearts go out to Misrach’s family and friends, and to the broader campus community that has been rocked by this tragedy.”

“Losing a member of our community is always difficult. The long wait for definitive news about what led to his death has been a challenge for all of us, and especially for those close to Misrach,” the statement added.

Ewunetie, described by the family as a bright student and quiet young woman, was last seen around 3 am on October 14 in the vicinity of Scully Hall on the Ivy League campus.

Her body was found on October 20 behind the tennis courts on the facility grounds by a facility employee. Authorities previously said there were no “obvious signs of injury” and that his death did not appear suspicious or criminal in nature.

Princeton earlier said in an email to students when she went missing that Ewunetie’s family notified its Department of Public Safety on Oct. 16 that they had not heard from her in several days and requested a wellness check.

An extensive search was conducted using a helicopter, drones, and watercraft.

His brother, Universe Ewunetie, previously told NBC News that his family is originally from Ethiopia and that his sister grew up in Euclid, Ohio.

She was the valedictorian of her high school and had a full trip to Princeton, Cleveland City Councilman Charles Slife said in a public video asking for help finding her. He worked with her at Minds Matter Cleveland, a nonprofit organization that provides academic and tutoring resources for low-income, high-achieving high school students.

He said she was a sociology major who interned at Bank of America and worked for McKinsey.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit TalkingSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.