A former college student from Maine, who vanished two months ago, has been discovered deceased in a pond close to his apartment on Tuesday, as confirmed by authorities.
Chance Lauer, aged 19, was last observed on January 19 at the Orchard Trail Apartments in Orono, where he resided, according to a news release from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife issued during the search operation.
Upon his disappearance, Lauer’s wallet was located in his room, and his phone was turned off, as previously reported by the Orono Police Department. They also noted that Lauer did not own a vehicle.
Officers from the police department found a body in the pond after receiving a tip-off from a civilian on Tuesday. With assistance from the Maine Warden Service, the body was retrieved and positively identified as that of Lauer.
Police have stated that there appears to be nothing suspicious surrounding the death at this point, although they have not disclosed the cause of death. An autopsy is currently pending.
Police said “at this point there is nothing suspicious about the death,” though they did not indicate how Lauer died. An autopsy was pending.
According to FOX22 Bangor, an individual who identified as a family member of Lauer wrote on social media Wednesday that “he was recovered from a pond near his Orono apartment yesterday afternoon. He went out for a walk 8 weeks ago and fell through the ice.”
Lauer disappeared near the Orchard Trail Apartments in Orono, Maine, where he lived, authorities previously said. (Google Maps)
The pond has reportedly been a focal point of the search for Lauer.
Robert Bowie, director of Downeast Emergency Medicine Institute (DEEMI), told the outlet in a statement Wednesday “the pond has been an area of interest since the beginning, as apartment employee interviews indicated it as an area he would frequent.”
“DEEMI has launched multiple drone imaging missions over the search area, including the pond, both infrared and high resolution digital imaging,” Bowie said. “There have been at least three imaging missions of this area of interest, and more were planned.”
Police thanked the Maine Warden Service, University of Maine and search volunteers for their help in trying to locate Lauer.
A sign at the entrance to the University of Maine campus in Orono, Maine, July 22, 2016. (iStock)
“The Orono Police Department and the Town of Orono want to extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Lauer,” police said.
Lauer was enrolled at the University of Maine from September 2024 through December 2025, the school confirmed to People.
The school told WMTW-TV Lauer was not enrolled at the time he went missing.
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