VT VT - Lia Smith, 21, Middlebury College student, last seen 9pm on campus, Middlebury, 17 Oct 2025

[Unalienable Rights]

Police looking for missing Middlebury College student | Addison Independent

www.addisonindependent.com

Middlebury police on Sunday evening said they are looking for Lia P. Smith, who was last seen on campus on Friday evening.

Smith was last seen at 9 p.m. on Oct. 17.

*****
Smith is a senior from California double majoring in computer science and statistics. She is also a successful diver on the Panther women’s swimming and diving team.

https://www.facebook.com/middleburycollege/posts/pfbid02ZXi4E4Xe2ZJ74t9yvPr2vrfJjcosF9QS1nvfwHMkRdoc3XZjsDWnp6uvXtuWgLC7l

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff,

We are writing to inform you that we have received information about a possible missing student. We are working closely with the Middlebury Police Department (MPD), which is investigating and collecting information at this time. We have been in touch with the student's family and friends to offer support and learn all we can about the student’s recent activities and whereabouts.

MPD has posted an announcement to their Facebook page naming the student and asking that anyone with information contact the police department at 802-388-3191. You may also contact Middlebury College Public Safety at 802-443-5911.

The post reads as follows:

“The Middlebury Police Department is requesting assistance in locating Lia Smith, age 21, who was reported missing earlier today. Lia is a current Middlebury College student and was last seen on campus on October 17th, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m.

Anyone with information about Lia or her whereabouts is asked to contact the Middlebury Police Department at 802-388-3191 or submit an online tip on our website.”

We will provide additional updates and share more information when we receive it. Our priority now is to work actively with the police department to support their investigation and to offer support resources to our students.

Sincerely,

Smita Ruzicka
Vice President for Student Affairs
Demitria Kirby
Associate Vice President of Safety

 

[GraceG]

Anoher article on Liz from the same news source as the missing article linked above. I hope she's found soon, and just needed a break from any stress in her life. Students and community turn out for their trans peers | Addison Independent

 

[Izzylizzy]

No mention if she has a car or places off campus she may go to on the weekends.

 

[Zeta74]

I’m concerned that she may have been the victim of a hate crime. Or that hate directed at the trans community could have led to suicide here.

 

[Serononin]

I’m concerned that she may have been the victim of a hate crime. Or that hate directed at the trans community could have led to suicide here.

I very much hope that's not the case, but I fear you may be right. Especially since she's on the swim team, and trans women in sport have been a particular focus of anti-trans campaigners lately

 

[muddlehead]

Yikes. Easy to fear the worst here. Cannot imagine the turmoil that comes with being a trans athlete.

 

[thewayfindsyou]

I’m concerned that she may have been the victim of a hate crime. Or that hate directed at the trans community could have led to suicide here.

Am I missing a part where she is mentioned as being trans? I thought this is a cis woman and reread the article.

 

[angelainwi]

Am I missing a part where she is mentioned as being trans? I thought this is a cis woman and reread the article.

post #2

 

[thewayfindsyou]

post #2

Oh, whoops. Had my phone screen dimmed and didn't see the blue link in the post lol. Thanks

 

[Inthedetails]

I very much hope that's not the case, but I fear you may be right. Especially since she's on the swim team, and trans women in sport have been a particular focus of anti-trans campaigners lately

There is a lot of hate spewed at trans people lately, that's for sure. I remain hopeful for a "found safe." Please!

jmopinion

 

[NervousNellie]

Wow. I am so saddened by this. I know it’s naive, but I have such lovely memories of Middlebury and Vermont that this really hurts. I know hate is everywhere, but it’s hard when we find it in places we love.

My thoughts and heart are with the missing woman, Lia, at this time.

 

[Teche]

I’m concerned that she may have been the victim of a hate crime. Or that hate directed at the trans community could have led to suicide here.

The university/community could be more liberal than other locations.

 

[tarabull]

Search for missing college senior underway - The Middlebury Campus

Lia Smith ’26 was reported missing to the Middlebury Police Department on Sunday afternoon. Smith's father filed the report after not hearing back from her via cell phone and communicating with her friends, who last saw her on campus at 9 p.m. Friday night.

www.middleburycampus.com

 

[LookingForClues]

The university/community could be more liberal than other locations.

While Vermont is generally more tolerant and liberal on social issues, we are not immune to bigotry and hate here. No community is. Until we have more details, though, it's difficult to know whether being a trans woman has anything to do with her disappearance, and whether violence or self-harm are involved. It could be related to academics, personal relationships, etc. I hope she is OK and found soon. Her parents must be frantic.

 

[joeconn4]

The Middlebury College Women's Swimming & Diving team roster does not show Lia Smith as a team member in 2024-2025, 2023-2024, or 2022-2023. The Addison County Independent article referenced in post #2 states that she "competed as a diver for Middlebury's aquatics team". I haven't been able to figure out how to find meet results from prior seasons.

 

[LookingForClues]

Search for missing college senior underway - The Middlebury Campus

Lia Smith ’26 was reported missing to the Middlebury Police Department on Sunday afternoon. Smith's father filed the report after not hearing back from her via cell phone and communicating with her friends, who last saw her on campus at 9 p.m. Friday night.

www.middleburycampus.com

This stands out to me. Why would the police say she's not in trouble, nobody's in trouble "for this"? Also, how would publicization of their investigative procedures hinder their search efforts?

Hayes declined to provide further details on the department’s investigative procedures in case their publicization hinders their search efforts.

“If there’s any concern, or if Lia thought she was in trouble for anything, she’s not, nobody’s in trouble for this,” Hayes said. “We just truly want to find out where she is and make sure she’s safe.”

 

[swanniee11]

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I don't recall seeing this
Snipped: Lia is a senior at Middlebury College and was last seen in a building on campus at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 10/17/2025.

 

[GraceG]

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I don't recall seeing this
Snipped: Lia is a senior at Middlebury College and was last seen in a building on campus at approximately 9:00 p.m. on Friday, 10/17/2025.

It's in the first article that was linked in the opening of the thread. I didn't catch it the first time either. It stated "
"Middlebury police on Sunday evening said they are looking for Lia P. Smith, who was last seen on campus on Friday evening. . . .
. . . . Smith was last seen at 9 p.m. on Oct. 17."

 

[Zeta74]

The “she’s not in trouble” language indicates to me that they think Lia is alive and reading the statement. It’s encouraging her to come out from wherever she’s hiding. Not sure if they have intel, maybe phone tracking or messages, to indicate she left voluntarily. Seems to me that they don’t suspect foul play.