Jiwon Lee Missing Person Report — Columbia Dental Student Found Dead in Hudson River, 2014
NEW YORK, NY — The disappearance and subsequent death of Jiwon Lee, a promising Columbia University School of Dental Medicine graduate student, captivated both the New York academic community and the public in early 2014. Lee, 29, was reported missing after she failed to return to her Upper West Side residence in Manhattan, New York, leading to an extensive search that ended tragically when her body was later recovered from the Hudson River more than a month after her disappearance. (DNAinfo)
Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in Novi, Lee had built a distinguished academic and professional profile prior to entering dental school. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2006 with degrees in History and Communications, later joining AmeriCorps where she taught math to middle school students in New York City. Her dedication to her studies and her peers earned her the presidency of the American Student Dental Association and a position as a student representative on the Joint Commission on National Dental Examinations. (DNAinfo)
On the evening of April 1, 2014, Lee was last seen at approximately 8:30 p.m. inside her West 98th Street apartment, where she lived while in her fourth year of dental school. Family members reported that she had spoken briefly with her brother — a medical student also attending Columbia — on the phone that night, but she did not return calls thereafter and was not seen again. Her personal cell phone went offline shortly after that final contact, and its last ping was traced near the George Washington Bridge the following day, prompting concern among friends, classmates and law enforcement. (amNewYork)
Concerned family and friends launched an online GoFundMe campaign to both aid in the search for Lee and to hire a private investigator to assist authorities in locating her. Within days, the fundraiser received widespread support, raising more than $87,000. Lee’s brother, Matthew Lee, appealed openly for information, describing her as a beloved sister, daughter, friend and mentor whose sudden disappearance was deeply out of character. (GoFundMe)
The New York Police Department conducted an extensive missing person investigation throughout April 2014, canvassing local streets, checking surveillance footage, and coordinating public alerts and media outreach to help trace Lee’s movements. Despite these efforts, no confirmed sightings were reported, and the search entered its fifth week with little progress. (West Side Rag)
The search ultimately ended on May 3, 2014, when Lee’s body was discovered floating in the Hudson River near West 86th Street by first responders. She was recovered by emergency personnel and later identified by the NYPD as the missing Columbia student. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Lee’s death was a suicide, although detailed findings were not immediately released to the public. At the time of discovery, she was described in reports as wearing a sweater, boots and minimal clothing, consistent with circumstances suggesting intentional self-harm. (amNewYork)
Lee’s tragic death prompted an outpouring of grief from her academic cohort, friends and mentors, who remembered her as energetic, intellectually gifted, and passionate about dentistry, education and comedy. At the memorial service held on the Columbia University Medical Campus shortly after her body was found, hundreds of attendees shared memories of Lee’s leadership, humour and generous spirit. Faculty and classmates alike spoke of her deep commitment to her profession and her potential as a future healthcare provider. (DNAinfo)
In the wake of her passing, Lee’s family announced plans to use funds raised during the search to establish a memorial scholarship, honouring her legacy and supporting future dental students in her name. The scholarship aims to reflect her leadership and dedication to the dental profession, ensuring her impact endures beyond her life. (charactermedia.com)
Lee’s disappearance and death remain a somber reminder of the importance of mental health awareness, particularly among high-achieving students facing rigorous academic pressures. Her story continues to be referenced in discussions about student wellness, the impact of depression, and the need for comprehensive support systems within higher education communities. (DNAinfo)
