Missing West Point Cadet Found Dead on Military Academy’s Grounds

October 23, 2019

The United States Military Academy has announced that the body of a missing cadet was found Tuesday night on the military academy’s grounds.

Cadet Kade Kurita, 20, of Gardena, California, has been the subject of a four-day search since he went missing on Friday.

The academy, also known as West Point, said on its Facebook page that Kurita’s body was discovered at 9:47 p.m.

While his cause of death is still under investigation, foul play is not suspected, reports CBS News.

“We are grieving this loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to Cadet Kurita’s family and friends,” the academy’s superintendent, Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, said.

Kurita was supposed to show up for a military skills competition on Friday evening but failed to do so. He had been missing since.

Kurita’s fellow cadets conducted the initial search on the night of Oct. 18, reports the New York Post. It wasn’t until 1 a.m. on Oct. 19 that the New York State Police was brought in.

According to the academy, Kurita’s M4 rifle was also missing. While he wasn’t considered a threat to the public as he did not have any magazines or ammunition with him, it was thought that he might be a danger to himself.

“There has been no cell phone or financial activity in over 72 hours,” Col. Cecil Marson, garrison commander of West Point was quoted as saying. “This leads us to believe that he is still in the vicinity of West Point.”

An extensive search for him was eventually launched by the West Point Military Police, New York State police, Coast Guard, CSX railroad police, local police, and the 23rd Military Police Company from Fort Drum, N.Y.

The search party covered more than 6,000 acres in their search, using dive teams and sonar to search the Hudson River and lakes and ponds on West Point.

Featured Image via Facebook / West Point – The U.S. Military Academy

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