Dartmouth student found dead in river triggers bullying investigation

Police are investigating whether hazing played a role in the death of a Dartmouth College student whose body was found in a river over the weekend.

Won Jang, a 2026 graduate, was reported missing Sunday afternoon after he was last seen the night before at a social event at the docks near the Connecticut River. Police searched the area with the help of a dive team, fisheries and game officers and water police. Several hours later, they found Jang’s body about 20 yards offshore in the river, according to a news release from Hanover, New Hampshire police.

Jang, 20, studied biomedical engineering and was from Middletown, Delaware. He was “enthusiastic about his involvement in the Dartmouth community,” said Scott Brown, dean of Dartmouth College, in a message of condolence to the community.

Two of Jang’s friends wrote in an email to The Dartmouth, the college’s student newspaper, that Jang attended a joint event between his fraternity Beta Alpha Omega and the sorority Alpha Phi on the evening of July 6. Alcohol was involved at the event, the two friends said.

Police Chief Charles Dennis told WMUR-TV that they would investigate allegations of hazing.

“There is evidence that alcohol was involved, at least from witnesses and conversations with such individuals,” he told the ABC-affiliated news channel. “That is all part of our investigation as well. We received an anonymous email from the college this morning that there may have been hazing involved, so we will definitely be looking into that aspect as well.”

A college spokesman said in a statement Tuesday that Beta Alpha Omega and Alpha Phi have been suspended during the investigation.

Last fall, Dartmouth’s college newspaper reported that an unspecified incident had led to Beta Alpha Omega’s suspension through the summer semester of 2024, which began in June and will run through August. The same reporting said Alpha Phi was placed on alcohol probation last winter.

The cause of Jang’s death has not yet been determined, police said. However, initial investigations do not suggest that anyone else was at fault.

Dartmouth College and Beta Alpha Omega did not immediately respond to requests for comment.