Missing Princeton student Misrach Ewunetie’s phone traced to New Jersey housing complex
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The cell phone of a missing Princeton University student pinged from a location about seven miles from campus two days after she went missing before suddenly shutting down.
The location is one of the few clues for those looking for Misrach Ewunetie, five days since the 20-year-old disappeared.
The location appears to be a New Jersey residential complex near Penns Neck.
According to her brother Universe, Misrach shared her location with another family member.
Misrach Ewunetie’s cell phone, 20, pinged from a New Jersey residential area two days after she was reported missing
“It’s very different for her to turn off her phone, kids these days don’t turn off their phone, they love their phone,” said brother Universe. “It’s a nightmare I can’t wake up from.”
“It’s very different from her to turn off her phone. Kids these days don’t turn off their phone, they love their phone,” Universe told. The sunwho described the situation as “a nightmare from which I cannot wake.”
The last ping appeared to register at 3:27 a.m. on Sunday morning before finally shutting down the phone.
Campus police have visited the residential area three times and have searched the home with dogs, but were unable to enter any property due to a lack of search warrants, but they did speak to residents.
Universe joined the officers in the latest search. “It wasn’t enough time because the back area was wooded and full of vines and shrubs,” he said.
Misrach was reported missing Monday night after her friends and family said they hadn’t heard from her for days
“She is loved and cared for, and we miss her. We’re looking for her,” Universe said.
“She’s a very smart, empathetic person who cares about people. A reserved person. She is much loved by her family and everyone who has known her and who has ever come to her. People from her high school to high school, from people who even interviewed her,” he said. ‘She was a farewell speech. She is a very smart girl.
“I hope she comes home safely to us,” he added.
Ewunetie is originally from northeastern Ohio and had been awarded a full scholarship to the prestigious university in 2020
Misrach, a junior at elite college, was last seen at 3 a.m. Friday near Scully Hall, where she lived on campus.
Earlier that evening, Misrach had volunteered at Terrace Club, one of the university’s eleven dining clubs.
That night, Ewunetie was a member on ‘conscription’ — performing household chores during a live music performance at the club.
After the club closed and all duties were completed, Misrach, along with other on-duty members, left for the night.
After the event, “she went back to her dormitory at 3 a.m.,” her brother said. “Her roommates said they saw her at 3 a.m. Then another roommate of hers said she hadn’t seen her after 4am, and nobody saw her after that.
“Her roommates didn’t look for her because they thought she was going home.”
“With the pandemic, they weren’t on campus the first year, so that was difficult for her and for a lot of people,” Universe explains.
“But this year she tried to get into this Terrace Club, and that was her way of making friends.”
Ongoing search efforts now include “an increased presence of law enforcement officers on and around campus, including the use of a helicopter, drones and watercraft,” the university explained on Wednesday.
Her family, who have lived in Ohio since 2008 but are originally from Ethiopia, say her disappearance is all the more troubling after she missed a citizenship application meeting the next day.
‘She is the pearl of the house, [my parents’] only daughter and the youngest,’ said Universe. “She is much loved.”
School officials say she has “had no contact with her family or friends in several days” and sent a “Tiger Alert” to the school community around 9:20 p.m. Monday evening to report her missing. Daily Princetonian reports.
Ewunetie is described as 5-foot-4-inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has brown eyes, black hair and a “light complexion,” school officials said.
She was last seen around 3 a.m. Friday near Scully Hall (pictured), where she lives on campus
Originally from northeastern Ohio, Ewunetie had received a full scholarship to the prestigious university in 2020, covering her tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, and travel expenses for four years.
She was interested in science, the Villa Angela-St Joseph High School reported at the time, saying Princeton was her first choice of school.
Her disappearance comes as students are off campus for fall break after midterm exams.
“It’s obviously heartbreaking,” junior Laura Esguerra . told me PIX 11. “It hurts, it really hurts . . . hope she comes back safe.”
She added: “It’s a good reminder that we should look out for each other and that we should definitely watch her friends, especially after the midterms.
“It’s a tough week, it’s a tough time for everyone, both mentally and physically,” Esguerra explained.
She added: “I really hope it doesn’t come down to that, but it’s a good reminder to visit your friends after a hard week.”
Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to contact the school’s public safety department at (609) 258-1000, or submit an anonymous tip online.