On May 20, 2024, the body of Kexin Cai, a 26-year-old Dartmouth College graduate student, was discovered in the Connecticut River following a five-day search. Cai had been missing since May 15, last seen riding her e-bike in West Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Local authorities initiated a search for Cai after staff at Dick’s House, Dartmouth College’s health center, reported her missing on May 17. Concerned about their inability to contact Cai, the health facility’s staff called Lebanon police to conduct a wellness check at her apartment in Sachem Village, West Lebanon, around 6 p.m.
The search area widened when Cai was not found at her apartment in the Dartmouth-owned housing complex. Over the weekend, surveillance footage from two local businesses showed Cai leaving on her e-bike around 6 p.m. on May 15, heading south on NH Route 10 towards West Lebanon.
The search efforts were primarily focused on the Boston Lot Conservation Area after a motorist reported seeing her e-bike. On the afternoon of May 20, a fisherman in Windsor, Vermont, roughly 14 miles south of West Lebanon, reported a sighting along the Connecticut River. Emergency services pulled a body from the river later that day, around 5:30 p.m., which was identified as Cai. According to the police, the initial investigation did not suggest any foul play.
Cai, originally from China, was a second-year doctoral student at Dartmouth’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, specializing in communication challenges in autism. “Kexin was an exceptionally gifted and humble researcher,” stated Jon Kull, Dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies, adding that Cai was an avid cat lover and often included their pictures in her presentations and posters.
Kristian Droste, Cai’s partner, revealed that she had been going through a mental health crisis and had voluntarily checked into Dick’s House on May 13. She was later transferred to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and was released on May 15, the same day she vanished. “Kexin had an uninhibited laugh and often sang in another language,” Droste said. “She was incredibly loyal to her family and loved ones.”
Local law enforcement, Dartmouth Safety and Security, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, and numerous volunteers contributed to the search for Cai. The comprehensive search entailed foot patrols, boats, drones, and helicopters. Despite these efforts, the strong current of the Connecticut River likely carried Cai’s body downstream from her last known location.
Cai’s advisor described her as having a genuinely sweet personality and a deep love for the Upper Valley, where she enjoyed hiking, skiing, and road trips. “We had held out hope that the outcome would be different,” Kull said. “The Dartmouth community will deeply feel her loss.”
Dartmouth College plans to hold a remembrance gathering to honor Cai’s memory. The college is also providing resources for students and staff affected by her death, offering support through the campus counseling center.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cai’s death is still ongoing. The New Hampshire State Medical Examiner is also set to conduct an autopsy to ascertain the exact cause of death.
