[UPDATE]: Tompkins County Sheriff Ken Lansing said the deaths of Vicky Chen of Ithaca College, found dead in Ithaca Saturday afternoon, and George Desdunes ’13 are probably alcohol-related. “It appears to be young people overindulging in alcohol, that’s what all indications are,” Lansing told the Ithaca Journal this evening. “Although we don’t know for certain in the case of the Cornell student, we’re waiting on an autopsy for that.”
Cornell University president David Skorton issued his first public message regarding the death of George Desdunes ’13 this afternoon. The message of Skorton’s statement offered condolences to the Desdunes family, but took on a slightly different tone than previous such messages regarding student tragedies.
I understand there will be speculation about the causes of this terrible tragedy. A comprehensive investigation regarding all the circumstances surrounding this loss of life is underway under the direction of the Ithaca Police Department, with the support of the New York State Police and Cornell Police. Once it is complete and we have all the available facts, we will inform the community and share decisions regarding the appropriate course of action.
