Sophomore Joshua Luo was found dead near his Pennsylvania hometown yesterday after being reported missing last Friday, March 22.
Luo, 20, from Rose Valley, took a leave of absence from the University shortly after returning from spring break, according to Dean of Students Matthew Burns.
In a joint email release to the UR community today, Dean of the College Jeffrey Runner and Burns said the school’s “heartfelt condolences go out to Josh’s parents and family, to his classmates and friends, and to all of the students, faculty, and staff in AS&E who have been affected by Josh’s death.”
The deans said they had the opportunity to speak with Luo’s father yesterday. “Mr. Luo spoke of Josh’s excitement arriving on the University of Rochester campus for his first year, and of Josh’s enthusiasm for many activities in which he was involved here.”
According to the email, Luo was planning a major in Environmental Health.
Luo’s body was discovered in Springton Lake Reservoir, near Rose Valley, around 11 a.m. yesterday, Pennsylvania State Police said in a release, as reported in a Delaware County Times article. Police said the investigation is ongoing, but that there is no evidence of foul play.
The initial missing person’s release said Luo drove off in his father’s Subaru Forester sometime between 1:30 and 6:30 a.m. Luo took his father’s wallet and a bottle of Tylenol with him, as mentioned in the same article. Luo’s family posted on Facebook beginning last Sunday looking for him.
Local police found the Subaru this past Monday near the reservoir in the town of Upper Providence and continued to search the area after the vehicle was found, as reported in the article.
The deans’ email offered a way to plan an event remembering Luo. Community members can call Denise Yarbrough, director of Religious and Spiritual Life, at 585-275-4321. The University is still making arrangements to fly the Rochester flag at half-staff.
The email also mentioned that those struggling with the news, or those who know others struggling with the news, can reach out to the CARE network.
“Josh will always be remembered as a part of our community,” the email said. “In the coming days, we hope you can draw strength from your friends, your colleagues, your mentors and advisors, and from the community bonds that connect and sustain us.”
