Missing College Student Found Dead

By Ian Brickey, of the W&M Flat Hat Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Ian Smith-Christmas

The Virginia Beach Police Department discovered the body of College of William and Mary junior Ian Smith-Christmas late Monday afternoon.

The discovery came in response to a missing persons bulletin issued by the Williamsburg Police Department Monday morning.

According to a press release issued by Williamsburg police and Virginia Beach police, Smith-Christmas’ silver Ford Taurus was discovered in a hotel parking lot in the 200 block of Atlantic Ave.

Virginia Beach police said preliminary investigations determined that Smith-Christmas’ death was an apparent suicide. They declined to comment further.

“The worst of fears was confirmed late last night as the family of Ian Kramer Smith-Christmas and the College were notified that Ian’s body had been found in his car by Virginia Beach Police, his death the result of an apparent suicide,” Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler said in an e-mail sent to students Tuesday morning.

Williamsburg police began investigating the disappearance of the College of William and Mary student from Stafford County after he was reported missing Monday morning from his off-campus city home.

Smith-Christmas’ parents reported him missing when they were unable to contact him after arriving on campus for a planned visit.

A friend last reported seeing Smith-Christmas, 21, around 9 p.m. Saturday in the 800 block of Westgate Circle in Williamsburg.

“The Counseling Center will also be open throughout the day and until 7 p.m. this evening to anyone who would find talking to a counselor helpful [and] the Center is located on the second floor of Blow Hall, 221-3620,” Ambler said. “As always, counselors are on call on a 24-hour basis and can be reached after hours through the W&M Police at 221-4596. Additionally, the Residence Life staff, Dean of Students Office, campus ministers, and my office are available on a priority basis for those who need us.”

Ambler said that the aftermath of Monday’s events would be a time of sensitivity and reflection at the College.

Smith-Christmas' death is the second student suicide since February, when senior Dominique T. Chandler was found dead in her residence hall in an apparent suicide.