Police investigate whether dead Dartmouth student Won Jang was a victim of bullying

A 20-year-old Dartmouth College student was found dead in the Connecticut River over the weekend – police are investigating whether he was bullied.

Delaware native Won Jang, a member of Beta Alpha Omega at the Ivy League college, was last seen Saturday night during a social event near Dartmouth’s boathouse on the Connecticut River.

Jang was reported missing the following day. After hours of searching, his body was found about 20 meters off the coast on Sunday evening, Hanover police said in a press release.

“There is some evidence that alcohol was involved, certainly from witness statements and conversations with such individuals,” Police Chief Charles Dennis told WMUR.

“This is all part of our investigation. We received an anonymous email from the college this morning that this may be hazing, so we will definitely be looking into that aspect as well,” Dennis added.

Dartmouth College told the station that the fraternity to which Jang belonged had been disciplined for an unspecified incident last fall.

In January, Beta Alpha Omega was one of four fraternities at the school suspended for violating social rules, The Dartmouth reported.

Jang, who is studying biomedical engineering, had participated in Sophomore Summer, a time when rising third-year students can stay on campus and take part in an intensive and more relaxed summer course, according to the Ivy League website.

His fraternity brothers, who did not want to appear on camera, told WMUR they gathered Sunday evening to remember their friend.

According to the student newspaper, the 20-year-old graduate of the class of 2026 was a project manager in the DALI laboratory, a research assistant at the Thayer School of Engineering and a mentor for international students.

Friends of Jang gathered on campus to remember his cheerful spirit, telling WMUR he was someone who was always happy and cracking jokes.

“Won was always a great guy. I don’t think there was ever a time when I didn’t see him with a smile on his face,” said his friend Kledian Marinaj.

“I had just spoken to him to arrange to go out to dinner together sometime. Of course, I was very excited when I got the news, so I met up with friends around here and we went for a walk and talked about all the great things about Won, about how he cracks jokes and makes people laugh.”

A school spokesman said the affected students would be offered grief counseling.

“Won has wholeheartedly embraced the opportunities at Dartmouth to pursue his academic and personal passions,” Dean Scott Brown wrote in an email to campus. “He has enthusiastically participated in the Dartmouth community.”

The police investigation into Jang’s death is ongoing.

The authorities said it could take up to six months to prepare a toxicological report.