Student Missing From Ithaca College

missing persons alerts are important.

Lets hope that he is found alive and safe.

Deb, keep us informed.

Let us hope it's not the Smiley Face Killers who are behind this.

@ Bob Ewing
missing persons alerts are important.

I agree...and MSM is JUST getting on this now, within the last 15 minutes!

@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Lets hope that he is found alive and safe.

I hope so too, Cynthia.

@ Nikki W (karateblossom)
Deb, keep us informed.

I will try...but if any one of you would, in case I'm moved by the time more information hits, you can use the links to keep up with this...and add updates if you would!

@ Brant David McLaughlin
Let us hope it's not the Smiley Face Killers who are behind this.

You read my mind, Brant. I thought exactly the same thing while I was writing this up!

@ Brant David McLaughlin
Let us hope it's not the Smiley Face Killers who are behind this.

I hope so too, t seems they are getting away with it easy.

Ok - pardon me for not being up to date here but can someone tell me who or what "the Smiley Face Killers" are?

@ Pamela Jean (GotTheScoop)
Ok - pardon me for not being up to date here but can someone tell me who or what "the Smiley Face Killers" are?

Brant did a story on the Smiley Face Killers yesterday, Pam. Once you read his story, you'll see the possible (? But I hope not!) connection.

I hope he is ok. I hate hearing about missing students, my heart sinks.

Good report.

@ Susan Duclos
I hope he is ok. I hate hearing about missing students, my heart sinks.

Good report.

Thanks, Susan. I hope that this young man is found alive...I think my heart would break if he was found otherwise.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Thanks, Susan. I hope that this young man is found alive...I think my heart would break if he was found otherwise.

Me too Debra.

UPDATE via email from WENY:

Police have used helicopters and dogs, but no sign of Jacobson yet.
Jacobson’s friend, CJ Knowles was one of the last to see Jacobson before he disappeared.
He thought that when Jacobson left his house early Sunday morning, he was heading back to his dorm, but he doesn't know if he ever made it.
“We have kind of a student effort going on right now. We've spent all of last night searching through the woods probably about 40 of us organized last night,” Knowles said.
Jacobson's friends describe him as a “serial text messager.” When nobody received a message in a few days, they knew they had a problem.
His friends took matters into their own hands after filing a police report, setting up a Facebook alert, and posting fliers.
Campus police are working with city and state police to find Jacobson.
Edward Valley, Chief of Police in the City of Ithaca said, “The search area will continue to expand. He was last seen on foot so we're going to operate on the premise that he may still be somewhere he could have walked too, we'll be expanding that search as necessary.”

I will add the actual link in the morning when it hits their website.

I really don't like the sound of this to be honest. A kid doesn't just stop texting his friends.

@ Susan Duclos
I really don't like the sound of this to be honest. A kid doesn't just stop texting his friends.

I know. We're now looking at 60 some hours after he was last seen...with no word, no sightings...nothing. when it gets past 48 hours they say, things are not looking hopeful.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
I know. We're now looking at 60 some hours after he was last seen...with no word, no sightings...nothing. when it gets past 48 hours they say, things are not looking hopeful.

Hate to say it but I would feel better if he were a partier, or even someone known to run with a bad crowd, because then it wouldn't seem so ominous.

@ Susan Duclos
Hate to say it but I would feel better if he were a partier, or even someone known to run with a bad crowd, because then it wouldn't seem so ominous.

True.

The quiet ones who are habitual texters are probably less likely to just up and go through a drunk party binge.

This does not sound good at all, poor guy. I hope they find him.

Here is the link I mentioned above in comment #12, which includes a video.

UPDATE:

The search for a missing Ithaca College freshman ends with a grim discovery. Police found the body of 19-year-old Willie Jacobson in a pond on the I.C. campus Wednesday morning.

Very sad. At this point, they did not see that Jacobson had any injuries out of the ordinary. An autospy will be performed, and I will update again, as the information comes out.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
UPDATE:

Very sad. At this point, they did not see that Jacobson had any injuries out of the ordinary. An autospy will be performed, and I will update again, as the information comes out.

That truly sucks. I was hoping for the best even though it didn't look good. Thanks for the update Debra.

@ Susan Duclos
Hate to say it but I would feel better if he were a partier, or even someone known to run with a bad crowd, because then it wouldn't seem so ominous.

When did they determine he wasn't a "partier" - I must have missed that?

How sad!! My first thought is that he was drunk leaving a party and wandered off and fell in the pond - that is what has happened on several occasions here on college campuses in MN. These kids have huge drink fest binges and then one of them decides to go home alone and falls into the river or lake - just so tragic in every way.
Great followup on this story Deb - :-)

Thanks, Susan and Pam. I understand what you mean, Pam about him being a partier...he might have been alive today.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
UPDATE:

Very sad. At this point, they did not see that Jacobson had any injuries out of the ordinary. An autospy will be performed, and I will update again, as the information comes out.

That is really too bad Deb. I am sure that everyone was hoping and praying that he would be found alive.

How terrible for his family and friends.

I'm an Ithaca student, and I just came across this article and the comments. I just wanted to tell all of you that, according to friends who were with him that night of the party, Willie was not drunk when he left. He had been drinking, but not enough to severely impair his physical abilities. I think it is unfair of any of you talking about him being a "partier" when you don't know him. I did not know him personally, but I have close friends who did, and he did not party any more than any other typical college student. There has been a lot of speculation here on campus and across the internet as to what happened to him, but I think it is best for all of us to just wait to hear back from the autopsy report. Our campus is heart broken right now, and the speculation doesn't help. We all appreciate the condolences and thoughts and prayers, but saying things like "he might have been alive today" doesn't help the healing process. Thank you.

@ Kayla K
I'm an Ithaca student, and I just came across this article and the comments. I just wanted to tell all of you that, according to friends who were with him that night of the party, Willie was not drunk when he left. He had been drinking, but not enough to severely impair his physical abilities. I think it is unfair of any of you talking about him being a "partier" when you don't know him. I did not know him personally, but I have close friends who did, and he did not party any more than any other typical college student. There has been a lot of speculation here on campus and across the internet as to what happened to him, but I think it is best for all of us to just wait to hear back from the autopsy report. Our campus is heart broken right now, and the speculation doesn't help. We all appreciate the condolences and thoughts and prayers, but saying things like "he might have been alive today" doesn't help the healing process. Thank you.

My condolences to you and all that have been affected by this. The truth will come out and there should not be any speculation as to what happened. Let the police do their investigating. They will come up with the truth.

@ Kayla K
I'm an Ithaca student, and I just came across this article and the comments. I just wanted to tell all of you that, according to friends who were with him that night of the party, Willie was not drunk when he left. He had been drinking, but not enough to severely impair his physical abilities. I think it is unfair of any of you talking about him being a "partier" when you don't know him. I did not know him personally, but I have close friends who did, and he did not party any more than any other typical college student. There has been a lot of speculation here on campus and across the internet as to what happened to him, but I think it is best for all of us to just wait to hear back from the autopsy report. Our campus is heart broken right now, and the speculation doesn't help. We all appreciate the condolences and thoughts and prayers, but saying things like "he might have been alive today" doesn't help the healing process. Thank you.

Kayla, thank you for weighing in on this...and I also send my condolences to everyone at the college campus and his friends and family. I don't live only about 45 minutes from Ithaca, and when I saw this in the news, I thought it was important to get out there. None of us wanted to hear this news...we all hope that things would turn out okay.

As a note: According to WETM 18 news this morning, the autopsy should be back today. If it is, I'm hoping to be able to update this. Kayla, if you feel up to it and you hear the results, please...please feel free to add that here in the comments.

Again, thank you, Kayla. Bless you for coming here and speaking to us.

Another update:

Candlelight Vigil For Ithaca College Freshman

A candlelight vigil was held Wednesday night to remember Ithaca College freshman Willie Jacobson who was found dead Wednesday morning.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Another update:

Candlelight Vigil For Ithaca College Freshman

Thanks for the update on this tragic story Deb.

@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Thanks for the update on this tragic story Deb.

You are welcome, Cynthia. I'm now waiting for word on his autopsy so I can add that too.

Tomorrow we will be out of here, but my computer will be one of the last things moved. As far as I know, we're spending the night here, then we'll finish the move in the a.m.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
You are welcome, Cynthia. I'm now waiting for word on his autopsy so I can add that too.

Tomorrow we will be out of here, but my computer will be one of the last things moved. As far as I know, we're spending the night here, then we'll finish the move in the a.m.

Good luck in the move and hopefully it won't be too long until you are back here where you belong. :-)

If you have a library near you and can get away you can always use their computers.

@ Cynthia T. [Picasso]
Good luck in the move and hopefully it won't be too long until you are back here where you belong. :-)

If you have a library near you and can get away you can always use their computers.

Actually, we do have a library and there's also a computer shop in Watkins Glen that have computer access...free. If worse come to worse, that's an option I'll consider. Right now, all I'm wating on is my stimulus check...as soon as that comes, I'll be right back on!!! (Thankfully, I have direct deposit! LOL!)

Great follow ups on this Debra...good work.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Kayla, thank you for weighing in on this...and I also send my condolences to everyone at the college campus and his friends and family. I don't live only about 45 minutes from Ithaca, and when I saw this in the news, I thought it was important to get out there. None of us wanted to hear this news...we all hope that things would turn out okay.

As a note: According to WETM 18 news this morning, the autopsy should be back today. If it is, I'm hoping to be able to update this. Kayla, if you feel up to it and you hear the results, please...please feel free to add that here in the comments.

Again, thank you, Kayla. Bless you for coming here and speaking to us.

I think I may have been a little misunderstood. I absolutely agree that this is an important story to get out, I just didn't like seeing all of the speculation about his death in the comments. We all were obviously hoping for the best, and when he was found, everyone started speculating on how he died and it was creating conflict between the students when what we need is to come together as a community. I just wanted to help put an end to the speculation and ask that all comments made about Willie be positive ones. But thank you for your thoughts and prayers, if I find anything else out about the autopsy I will let you know.

@ Kayla K
I think I may have been a little misunderstood. I absolutely agree that this is an important story to get out, I just didn't like seeing all of the speculation about his death in the comments. We all were obviously hoping for the best, and when he was found, everyone started speculating on how he died and it was creating conflict between the students when what we need is to come together as a community. I just wanted to help put an end to the speculation and ask that all comments made about Willie be positive ones. But thank you for your thoughts and prayers, if I find anything else out about the autopsy I will let you know.

Thanks, Kayla. I want to add that when we were making the remarks about him being better off having been a partier, we meant it in a way where he might have still been found alive. That's all. We were in no way trying to disrespect this young man. Not one of us wanted it to end this way.

Again, Thanks for your comments...it means a lot when someone can come on here and give us their thoughts, ideas and such. Take care, okay?

@ Susan Duclos
Great follow ups on this Debra...good work.

Thanks, Susan. :)

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
UPDATE:

Very sad. At this point, they did not see that Jacobson had any injuries out of the ordinary. An autospy will be performed, and I will update again, as the information comes out.

In a pond...Ominous. And, he wasn't so drunk as to fall in.

@ Brant David McLaughlin
In a pond...Ominous.

It is, but they are saying by initial observances that it didn't look like foul play.

@ Debra Myers (skyangel)
Thanks, Kayla. I want to add that when we were making the remarks about him being better off having been a partier, we meant it in a way where he might have still been found alive. That's all. We were in no way trying to disrespect this young man. Not one of us wanted it to end this way.

Again, Thanks for your comments...it means a lot when someone can come on here and give us their thoughts, ideas and such. Take care, okay?

God no we weren't disrespecting him, if anything it was the opposite. With good kids, when they just disappear, it is more ominous, because it breaks character and lessens the chances of finding them well and healthy.

Ok, thank you all for your responses. I just misunderstood the comments. Again, if I hear any updates about the autopsy, I will post them. It means a lot that so many people who didn't even know him care so much. Thank you all.

@ Kayla K
Ok, thank you all for your responses. I just misunderstood the comments. Again, if I hear any updates about the autopsy, I will post them. It means a lot that so many people who didn't even know him care so much. Thank you all.

Thanks for speaking up and keeping us updated Kayla, our thoughts are with his family, friends and comrades.

UPDATE:

An autopsy performed by Dr. James Terzian at Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton shows 19-year-old Ithaca College freshman Willie Jacobson died from an accidental drowning.

Toxicology tests are incomplete and results are not expected for several weeks.

This was sent out by Ithaca College today to the students and faculty:

Autopsy Determines Student Accidentally Drowned

Contributed by David Maley
According to the Ithaca Police Department, preliminary autopsy results indicate that Ithaca College freshman William Jacobson's death was due to an accidental drowning. While the full autopsy report is not yet complete, police have ruled out foul play as the cause of death.

Jacobson was reported missing on the night of Monday, April 28, after having last been seen early the previous morning leaving an off-campus party. An extensive ground and aerial search was conducted by a number of local law enforcement and emergency services agencies. On Wednesday morning, his body was recovered by divers from the New York State Police in the Farm Road Pond on campus. The pond is located on the route he likely would have been taking to return to his Terrace 11 residence hall room.

"The outpouring of love and support that has been generated among the Ithaca College community in the wake of this tragedy has truly been remarkable," said Ithaca College President Peggy R. Williams. "Students, faculty, and staff -- those who knew Willie and those who only knew of him -- came together as one on Wednesday night to pay tribute to his memory and to support one another. We once again extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to his many friends as they grieve over this loss."

Ithaca College will continue to provide support to students and other members of the campus community through the Counseling Center and the Office of the Chaplains.


..thank you all again, for your continued support. --Kayla

RIP Willie

How sad. Thanks for the update Kayla.