IU student left questions in days before drowning
An Indiana University student missing for a week was found drowned late Friday night in a reservoir near the campus.
While the recovery of the body of Indianapolis native Joseph Smedley II may have provided some closure, it left family and friends struggling with grief since his disappearance and death.
A graduate of Lawrence Central High School, Smedley was an IU sophomore biochemistry student living off campus. He had last been seen Sunday night by his roommates, according to the IU Police Department.
First reported missing Monday, Smedley, 20, was found late Friday night in Griffey Reservoir, north of the Bloomington school. A coroner said his death was consistent with drowning.
No foul play is suspected in the death, said Monroe County coroner Nicole Meyer.
His last known contact was a text message he sent to a family member around4 a.m., Sept. 28.
Just before he disappeared, Smedley told a family member he intended to leave the country, IU police said, even though he had no known passport. And though he had enrolled for the fall semester, Smedley had not been attending classes, the campus police said.
Smedley’s family members sent a statement through a lawyer on Saturday that said Smedley was “an intelligent and loving son, brother and friend.”
“We are heartbroken by this morning's developments and still processing the events of the last six days,” said the statement, which also asked that the family’s privacy be respected.
A friend of Smedley’s, Elle Krauter, who knew him since high school and attended IU with him, said Smedley sent “positive vibes” wherever he went and had a number of close friends.
Krauter, who had stayed in touch with Smedley while she was studying abroad, also described him as “extremely intelligent and a great friend to have.”
But Krauter, in an email, also mentioned that she wasn’t sure how his life had been going lately.
“I hope that I've helped you get a better picture of who he is, but as for his troubles, I have to say that he kept that part of his life very private. Whatever he may have been going through, at least to me, was hidden deep down.”
Smedley's death is the second time this week that the IU community has been wracked by tragedy.
On Wednesday night, a man and woman were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide at a Bloomington apartment complex.Yaolin Wang, a 21-year-old IU student, was found dead from apparent stab wounds in a common area inside the Stratum Apartments complex. Police suspect that Chuanlin Xiao, a 20-year-old man who previously lived in Washington state, died from an apparent suicide by hanging after killing Wang.
Indiana University sent a note out on its Twitter account Friday night before the news that Smedley’s body had been found.
The school asked students to "please watch out for each other, especially tonight. If you feel your safety is at risk or see someone who needs help, call 911."
Star reporter Michael Anthony Adams contributed to this story.
Contact Star reporter Will Higgins at (317) 444-6043. Follow him on Twitter @WillRHiggins.