Nathan Bihlmaier Found Dead, Police Divers Discover Body In The Old Port Section Of Portland

Police in Portland, Maine, have discovered the body of a missing Harvard business school student, Nathan Bihlmaier, who went missing on Saturday and was last seen near the waterfront of the city's Old Port.

Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck confirmed that the 31-year-old's body was discovered by a Maine State Police dive team in conjunction with Portland police divers approximately 11:55 a.m. The body was discovered in a body of water near a pier along the city's Old Port neighborhood.

It's a tragic end, said Sauschuck, reported the Boston Herald. We had high hopes throughout working with the family and the community to bring Nate home. These weren't the circumstances that we wanted to.

The police chief said they do not believe that any crime has been committed, but the body was being sent to the medical examiner for an autopsy in order to determine the cause of death.

Bihlmaier, 31, whose wife Nancy is pregnant with their first child, was visiting some friends to celebrate their graduation from Harvard's prestigious business school. The three friends were drinking in Ri Ra Irish Pub on Saturday night. However, Bihlmaier was told to leave the establishment because he reportedly had too much to drunk, according to the Portland Press Herald.

Bihlmaier became separated from his friends. His friend returned to their hotel room. He did not return to the room and when he was not found Sunday morning, they alerted authorities.

Police said he used his cellphone just before he vanished.

He was saying, 'I am in front of this building right now,' which is not uncommon for somebody that may be in fact lost to give a landmark in hopes somebody else can pinpoint that, said Sauschuck, reported WMTW.

Bihlmaier's friends posted fliers around the Portland area in hopes some one could have led them to their friend alive.

Harvard responded to the news and said that the community was shaken after learning one of their students has gone missing so close to graduation.

Everybody is very concerned at Harvard Business School, said spokesman Brian Kenny, reported WMTW. The whole community was informed last night. We heard about the story through the Portland Herald the article that was posted on-line. We really don't know anything more than we learned from that story last night so we're here just like everybody else is hoping for the best.

Bhilmaier's family arrived in Portland to help the police assist in tracking down their loved one. Cheryl Bhilmaier, Nathan's mother, said she flew from Kansas to help find her son, reported the Boston Herald.

She said her son was natural leader, who excelled during his undergraduate career at the University of Kansas. He attended Harvard and recently completed his two-year master's program and was set to walk for his graduation. He planned to tell his parents about his wife's pregnancy when they arrived for his graduation.

Cheryl hoped that the fact that her son was asked to leave the bar does not soil his reputation.

We just hope that people can understand this wasn't someone that was just out drinking, that that's his lifestyle, Cheryl Bihlmaier said, reported the Boston Herald.

Kenny said the graduation ceremony will not be rescheduled.

Things will go on, but we will acknowledge Nate, Kenny said.