Middlebury, Vermont – Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of 21-year-old Lia Smith, a Middlebury College student from California who was last seen on campus on Friday, October 17, 2025.
The Middlebury Police Department (MPD), with support from the Vermont State Police (VSP), has expanded search efforts to locate the missing student. The VSP Search and Rescue Team is scheduled to participate in a full-scale operation beginning Thursday, October 23, joining ongoing campus and surrounding-area searches.
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Search efforts to date have included aerial drone surveys, ground searches, and a larger operation conducted on Wednesday, October 22, which covered wooded areas both on and adjacent to the campus. Participating agencies include the Middlebury Police Department, Middlebury Fire Department, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents from the Swanton Sector.
The investigation remains active and ongoing, with assistance from additional law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police and the FBI. Authorities are working closely with Lia’s family through the VSP Victim Services Unit.
Anyone with information regarding Lia Smith’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Middlebury Police Department at 802-388-3191, submit an online tip here
, call the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven at 802-388-4919, or submit an anonymous tip here
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Middlebury College continues to provide campus resources and opportunities for the community to gather and support each other during this time. Updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.
This case remains a priority for local and state authorities, with the hope of safely locating Lia Smith and bringing clarity to her disappearance.