UNH Student’s Body Found In Woods After He Was Reportedly Kicked Out Of Frat Party

KEY POINTS

Vincenzo Lirosi partied with friends before he went missing
A friend said Lirosi got into a fight at the party and was kicked out
The University of Hampshire said Lirosi’s death is “not believed to be suspicious”

The body of a missing University of Hampshire student has been found using a K-9 and thermal drone, authorities confirmed, after the young man was reportedly kicked out of a frat party following a fight.

The body of 22-year-old Vincenzo Lirosi was found in a wooded area off Coe Drive in Durham, New Hampshire, on Sunday afternoon, Durham police confirmed, according to ABC affiliate WMUR-TV. Lirosi had been drinking with friends at a fraternity party before he went missing. Durham Police Chief Rene Kelley said that “though this is not the outcome we all had hoped for, we are grateful that we were able to find Vincenzo and bring some closure to his family.”

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause and manner of death.

#Breaking: Durham Police say crews recovered the body of UNH student Vincenzo "Vinny" Lirosi this afternoon in a swampy area near Coe Drive. A K9 team located his body. An autopsy will determine the manner and cause of death via @MikeCroninWMUR pic.twitter.com/tpjIzmN1No
— WMUR TV (@WMUR9) December 5, 2021

Lirosi’s friend, Jordan Blanchard, told the outlet that he was with the victim at the fraternity party where Lirosi got into a fight and was kicked out of the party. Blanchard said it was “uncharacteristic” of Lirosi to get into a fight.

“This is his first fight ever,” Blanchard said, adding that after the fight was broken up, Lirosi “went into the woods.” Blanchard said other partygoers informed him Lirosi was seen headed to a marshy area that students often used as a shortcut to get into school grounds. Lirosi was reported missing at 3 a.m. Saturday and his body was found at around 1.20 p.m. Sunday.

In a statement following confirmation that Lirosi was found dead, the University of Hampshire wrote that “authorities continue to investigate cause of death but at this time it’s not believed to be suspicious.” The university has also offered counseling to students and faculty, acknowledging that “a sudden death brings a range of feelings, especially shock and disbelief.

It is with very heavy hearts that we share the search for Vincenzo Lirosi did not end as we had hoped. The student was found in the wooded area off Coe Drive this afternoon. Authorities continue to investigate cause of death but at this time it's not believed suspicious (1/5)
— University of New Hampshire (@UofNH) December 6, 2021

On Saturday, Durham police asked for the public’s help in searching for the UNH student. At that time, authorities said Lirosi is believed to not have a phone or identification with him. A helicopter was also deployed to help in the search, local newspaper The Portsmouth Herald reported. Kelley also said Saturday that aside from local police, canine units and Fish and Game officers provided assistance with the search.