Kexin Cai, a Dartmouth College graduate student, was found dead in the Connecticut River on May 20, 2024, following a five-day search. The 26-year-old had not been seen since May 15, when she was observed riding her e-bike in West Lebanon, New Hampshire.
After she was reported missing on May 17, the search for Cai started. Lebanon Police Chief Phil Roberts said staff from Dick’s House, Dartmouth’s on-campus health facility, expressed concern about not being able to communicate with Cai. They called Lebanon police at 6 p.m. Friday to request a wellness check at her Sachem Village apartment in West Lebanon.
When Cai was not located at her apartment in Dartmouth’s housing complex, the search widened over the weekend.
Two local businesses’ surveillance footage showed her departing on her e-bike around 6 p.m. on May 15, heading south on NH Route 10 towards West Lebanon. The search focused on the Boston Lot Conservation Area after her e-bike was spotted by a motorist.
Emergency services recovered a body from the Connecticut River around 5:30 p.m. on Monday, after a fisherman in Windsor, Vermont, about 14 miles south of West Lebanon, reported a sighting. The body was later identified as Cai. A preliminary investigation by the police showed no signs of foul play.
Cai, originally from China, was a second-year doctoral student in Dartmouth’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, studying communication challenges in autism. “Kexin was an exceptionally gifted and humble researcher,” said Jon Kull, Dean of the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. “She was so fond of cats that she included their pictures in all her posters and presentations.”
Kristian Droste, Cai’s partner, disclosed that Cai had been dealing with a mental health crisis and had checked herself into Dick’s House on May 13. She was subsequently moved to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and was discharged on May 15, the 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 several volunteers were involved in the search for Cai. The comprehensive search strategies included foot patrols, boats, drones, and helicopters. Despite these efforts, it is likely that the strong current of the Connecticut River swept Cai’s body downstream from her last known location.
Cai’s advisor described her as having a genuinely kind personality and a deep fondness for the Upper Valley, where she relished 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.”
A remembrance gathering to honor Cai’s memory will be planned for a later date. Dartmouth College is providing resources for students and staff affected by her death, including support through the campus counseling center.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Cai’s death is ongoing, and the New Hampshire State Medical Examiner will perform an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.
