20-year-old Bowdoin College student found dead in Maine parking lot
By Carl Samson
A 20-year-old Chinese woman was found dead at a parking lot in Topsham, Maine, on Saturday morning.
Key points:
- The woman was identified as Qingyang “K” Zhan, a student at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
- Police say there is currently no active threat to the community.
The details:
- Zhan’s remains were found in the parking lot at 2 Main Street at 7:02 a.m. on March 31. The site, according to Topsham police, is currently used for parking construction equipment for the Frank J. Woods Bridge.
- Police did not identify Zhan, but Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki named her in a letter addressing the campus community:
“Faculty members describe K as a bright and engaging presence, and many will remember her warmth and kindness. Her academic advisor, Jean Yarbrough—the Gary M. Pendy Sr. Professor of Social Sciences—described K as a student who was deeply interested in the most important theological and philosophical questions.”
- Zhan was born in Shanghai and had been living in the U.S. since 2019. She resided in California and double-majored in government and legal studies and Asian studies at Bowdoin.
- The college has extended counseling hours until Thursday and offered students and faculty members virtual support resources. A memorial service is being planned.
- Autopsy results are pending. Authorities investigating the case say there is currently no active threat to the community.
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