Princeton Mourns Lauren Blackburn '26, Found Dead in Lake Carnegie After Weeklong Search

Princeton University is reeling from the tragic loss of Lauren Blackburn '26, a 23-year-old junior whose body was found in Lake Carnegie on Friday, April 25, 2025, nearly a week after they were reported missing. The discovery, announced by Dean of Undergraduate Students Regan Crotty, has left the campus community in mourning, with no immediate details released about the cause of Blackburn's death.

Blackburn, a National Merit Scholar and Gates Scholar from Corydon, Indiana, was last seen near Firestone Library around 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. A university-wide TigerAlert was issued on April 22, prompting an intensive search led by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and regional law enforcement. The focus shifted to Lake Carnegie, a man-made reservoir used by Princeton's rowing team, after Blackburn's phone pinged in the area late Monday night. Search efforts, involving sonar-equipped boats, K-9 units, and drones, culminated in the grim discovery on Friday morning.

"I am deeply saddened to share with you that the body of Lauren Blackburn '26 was found at Lake Carnegie this morning," Crotty wrote in an email to the university community. "Our hearts are heavy, and we share our deepest condolences with Lauren's family and friends." The university has made counseling services available through Counseling and Psychological Services, the Office of Religious Life, and residential colleges to support students grappling with the loss.

Blackburn, an English major and member of New College West, was a standout student. A former features writer for The Daily Princetonian and recipient of the 2024 Sam Hutton Fund for the Arts, they earned a full-ride scholarship to Princeton after excelling at Corydon Central High School. "I'm very grateful and feel very blessed," Blackburn told WAVE in 2019, reflecting on the opportunity to attend Princeton.

The tragedy marks the third undergraduate death at Princeton in the past two years and the seventh since 2021, with the six prior undergraduate deaths ruled as suicides, according to The Daily Princetonian. This pattern has intensified concerns about student mental health and campus safety at the Ivy League institution.

The search for Blackburn drew significant attention, with local residents noting the unusual scale of law enforcement activity near Lake Carnegie. "It's the scale of it," said Elizabeth Sheldon, a local resident, describing the activity at a typically quiet boat ramp. The university has not indicated whether foul play is suspected, and authorities have urged anyone with information to contact DPS at (609) 258-1000.

This loss comes amid broader challenges for Princeton, including paused federal funding and heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration, though no direct demands have been made of the university as seen at Harvard and Columbia. As the campus unites in grief, The Daily Princetonian is preparing an obituary for Blackburn, inviting community members to share memories at news@dailyprincetonian.com.

The Princeton community now faces the difficult task of honoring Blackburn's legacy while addressing ongoing concerns about student well-being. As one X user reflected, "This is a heartbreaking reminder to check on those around us." The university's response in the coming weeks will likely shape discussions on mental health support and campus safety moving forward.