NEED TO KNOW
- A 19-year-old college student has been found dead after he went missing
- The body of Lucas Mattson was discovered a day after he disappeared in Michigan amid freezing weather conditions
- Mattson, a University of Michigan student, was “walking alone … without a coat,” police said
A college student has been found dead shortly after he went missing in Michigan amid extreme weather conditions.
The body of 19-year-old Lucas Mattson was discovered at 12:05 p.m. local time on Saturday, Jan. 24, the Ann Arbor Police Department (AAPD) said in a statement.
Mattson was last seen at 1 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 23. According to the AAPD, the teen was “walking alone … without a coat,” before he was later reported missing to police.
“The nearly 20-hour search effort to locate him took place in extreme cold conditions and included officers from AAPD and University of Michigan Division of Public Safety and Security, as well as the University of Michigan Police Department Drone Unit,” the AAPD said in its statement.
According to police, Mattson’s body showed “no obvious signs of trauma” when it was discovered. Foul play is currently not suspected, per authorities.
Mattson was an engineering sophomore at the University of Michigan, according to the college’s independent newspaper, The Michigan Daily.
After news of Mattson’s death was made public, his college’s Division of Public Safety and Security said in a statement on X, “It is with deep sadness that we share Lucas Mattson has been found deceased.”
“Our hearts are with Lucas’s family, friends, and all those who knew and loved him during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement continued.
The Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office (WCMEO) will now carry out a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death, police said.
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The AAPD initially released a missing persons report on Mattson on Jan. 24, stating that the teenager was considered to be in danger due to the “extreme frigid conditions” in the area.
According to the AAPD, “Crisis support is available to students through the following resources: Wolverine Wellness, University Health Service, and Counseling and Psychological Services.
The AAPD and the WCMEO did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Jan. 25.
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