Updated Friday, Oct. 24, 10:30 p.m.

Vermont State Police on Friday evening confirmed the identity of the body they found Thursday near The Knoll just west of the Middlebury College campus.

An autopsy showed that it was Lia Smith, 21, of Woodside, Calif., the Middlebury senior who was reported missing Sunday. The medical examiner determined the manner of Lia’s death was a suicide.

Police noted that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers providing free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

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MIDDLEBURY — In the search for Middlebury College senior Lia Smith Thursday afternoon, authorities found a body in a field near The Knoll, the college’s organic garden, Vermont State Police announced Thursday evening.

Police did not identify the body, but they did announced it as a part of an update to their search for Smith, who was last seen on campus Friday evening. Her father reported her missing to Middlebury police on Sunday when she didn’t respond to cell phone calls. That touched off searches throughout the area that grew in intensity all week.

Members of the Vermont State Police Search and Rescue Team located the body in a field west of campus at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23. Troopers said they would take the body to the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington for an autopsy to confirm identity and determine the cause and manner of death. The autopsy is expected to be performed Friday, Oct. 24.

Immediately upon finding the body, police secured the area and started investigation into the death. In a press release, police said the death did not appear to be suspicious.

On Monday, Middlebury used drones in their search. Middlebury College Public Safety on Tuesday started organizing search parties. MPD conducted a larger-scale search on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in wooded areas on and adjacent to the Middlebury College campus. At the request of MPD, college staff continue to search all campus facilities.

Vermont State Police late Wednesday said they would activate its Search and Rescue Team and its first full-scale search will take place Thursday, Oct. 23. In addition, the state police’s Victim Services Unit is working closely with Smith’s family.

State police investigators are leading the death investigation with assistance from the Middlebury Police Department and in coordination with the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. VSP will withhold the identity of the deceased individual until after the autopsy.

The college described Smith as a senior from California double majoring in computer science and statistics. She also saw success as a diver on the Panther women’s swimming and diving team.

In a message to the community late Thursday, Middlebury College President Ian Balcom acknowledged the tragedy of this development.

“This is incredibly saddening news, and we are working to support our community in every way we can at this difficult time,” he wrote.

“I know that this is extraordinarily difficult news to receive as we continue to hold Lia and all her family and friends tight in our hearts. As ever, please care for yourselves and one another.”

State police and Middlebury police thanked the numerous local, state, federal and civilian agencies, Middlebury College personnel, and volunteers for their considerable assistance in this week’s search efforts.