Dead Body of Missing Cornell Student Found in Fall Creek Gorge

Justin Morgan
By Justin Morgan
October 28, 2019US News
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Dead Body of Missing Cornell Student Found in Fall Creek Gorge
Antonio Tsialas. (Courtesy of New York State Police)

Police say they have recovered the body of a Cornell University student who went missing after leaving a frat party.

According to the NY Post, 18-year-old Antonio Tsialas was reported missing after failing to meet up with his family on Friday, for Family Weekend at the university.

Authorities say he was last seen during an event at the house of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, reported the Cornell Sun.

After leaving the event he wasn’t seen again until his body was discovered by police at the base of Fall Creek Gorge.

Fall Creek Gorge
Water cascades down The Potholes at Fall Creek Gorge Preserve in Warren County, Indiana. (Kenneth Keifer)

“A full investigation of the circumstances of his death is underway,” said the Cornell University Police Department in a statement. “No foul play is suspected,” the statement continued.

The president of the Interfraternity Council, 20-year-old Cristian Gonzalez, said an alumnus alerted him to the fact that Tsialas was missing. He then contacted the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, saying that it “seems like they took the right steps with cooperating with the police.”

Vice President for Student and Campus Life, Ryan Lombardi, sent a campus-wide email letting students know the school was in contact with Tsialas’ parents and was hoping for a positive outcome.

In a subsequent statement released Saturday night, Lombardi said “Antonio was an undeclared first-year student in the College of Arts & Sciences from Miami, FL. Described as a thoughtful and smart student.”

“Antonio was outgoing in nature and was actively involved in the Cornell Mundial F.C. club soccer team,“ he added.

“As a first-year student in Arts & Sciences, Antonio was beginning his journey at Cornell,” said Arts College Dean Ray Jayawardhana said in another email.

Cornell University
Cornell University Campus. (Lewis Liu/Shutterstock)

“He was most interested in chemistry, economics and math, and although he hadn’t yet explored chemistry, he was taking a variety of classes in computer science, macroeconomics, linear algebra and writing across cultures.”

The mother of the deceased student claims he was happy at the college and had also been selected to be a campus tour guide.

Penny Townsend, principal of the Ransom Everglades private school that Tsialas attended prior to Cornell, described him as enthusiastic and driven.

“It was fitting that Antonio was a goalie, as he always seemed to be watching over his teammates,” she told the Miami Herald.

“He brought energy, enthusiasm and drive to all he undertook, and he elevated the spirits of those around him. He was truly a special young man, and we are all deeply saddened by the loss of Antonio,” she added.

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