Body of Missing Northwestern Student Harsha Maddula Found in Harbor
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Maddula Family/Facebook(NEW YORK) — The body of missing Northwestern University student Harsha Maddula has been found, university officials confirmed.
A fisherman found the body floating near some boats in Wilmette Harbor Thursday night, according to ABC News affiliate WLS-TV.
Maddula’s wallet, Northwestern ID card and his cell phone were found on the body, according to Northwestern University spokesman Alan Cubbage.
“Wilmette Police investigators on the scene said there were no signs of foul play on the body,” Cubbage said in a news conference Thursday night.
The cause of death is under investigation.
In a statement, university president Morton Schapiro said: “On behalf of Northwestern University, I extend our deepest sympathies to Harsha’s family and to his many friends at Northwestern. Our hearts and thoughts are with them. The loss of one member of the Northwestern community deeply affects us all.”
Maddula, 18, disappeared Saturday after he left a party near Northwestern’s campus around 12:30 a.m., according to Northwestern University. His cell phone last pinged a cell tower near Wilmette Harbor around 1 a.m.
Divers searched the Lake Michigan harbor for hours on Wednesday, but found no signs of Maddula, according to a statement from the university early Thursday.
The family of the sophomore pre-med student flew from their home in Long Island, N.Y., to assist with the search, and put up a $25,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. They described Maddula as a bookworm not prone to adventures or partying.
“We really have no idea, no clue what could have happened to him,” his cousin, Srinu Maddula, told ABC News early Thursday. “It’s just out of his character. He’s just a good kid, he just likes to study. He really enjoys school and education and work. He doesn’t smoke, or drink, or do drugs because of his diabetic condition.”
Srinu Maddula said that the family has little information about the party that his cousin was attending or what friends he was with on the night of his disappearance.
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