A University of Michigan student has been found dead nearly 24 hours after going missing in icy conditions.
the last time Lucas Mattson he was seen alive, leaving a frat party around 1 a.m. on Friday, January 23. He was said to be wearing only a T-shirt and jeans and no coat despite temperatures dropping to 0 degrees at the time, according to the University of Michigan Division of Safety and Public Safety.
After hours of searching for the 19-year-old engineering student amid “extremely cold conditions”, police confirmed his body had been found on Saturday 24 January. There were no signs of foul play, but the Washtenaw County Coroner’s Office has not yet determined her cause of death.
After the tragic announcement, the president of the University of Michigan, Domenico Grassopublished a statement conveying its “deepest condolences to Lucas’ family, friends and all who loved him,” while also publicizing the ongoing investigation.
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“Sadly, a community of our size regularly experiences student deaths during each academic year, and their lives are collectively celebrated in an annual memorial service,” he wrote. “The University does not usually make public announcements about student deaths, for many reasons, but more often out of respect for the family’s wishes. However, Lucas’ disappearance and public concern for his safety make this situation different.”
“At times like these, misinformation and speculation can spread quickly,” Grasso continued, noting that the Ann Arbor Police Department was still investigating the incident. “At this time, we can share that prior to his disappearance, Lucas was attending a party at a fraternity house as a guest; he was neither a member nor a pledge. We must let the investigators finish their work and refrain from speculating until the facts are known.”
In closing, Grasso said he was “grateful for the support” of so many people, including those who sought him out in the inclement weather.
“As we mourn Lucas, we recommit ourselves to take care of ourselves and each other,” the letter read. “We are a stronger community when we come together to support our students, friends and colleagues. We can honor Lucas’ memory by demonstrating the compassion that defines the University of Michigan.”
In a GoFundMe launched by Mattson’s aunt, she described him as a “special young man” who would be “sorely missed”.
“Our family is devastated by the loss of Lucas,” the summary read.
Donations will go toward funeral and memorial costs, as well as any necessary out-of-state travel and lodging expenses for Mattson’s family, who currently live in Alaska, to “help ease the burden on Lucas’ mother, Lisa, and help her focus on transition and healing.”
The fundraising goal was just $15,000, but it earned more than $72,000 in donations at press time.
While it’s currently unclear why Mattson decided to leave the party alone without a winter coat, after his death, his teammates and others who knew him suggested that a “buddy system” should be implemented in dangerous weather conditions to prevent such a tragedy from happening again, it has been reported. Erika Ericksona Detroit news station reporter Wdiv.
“I feel like someone should have found him, like, before he died,” Genesis Padillaa Michigan student said at the time. “I think the buddy system definitely should have been used. I know that when I go out, me and my roommate always go out together, and I think in this case, I think it would have been better than going out alone.”