Found body may be missing student Tripathi

Authorities in Rhode Island are trying to determine whether a body found in the Providence River is that of Sunil "Sunny" Tripathi, a Brown University student from Bryn Mawr who went missing five weeks ago.

An autopsy was scheduled Wednesday. Its results have not been released.

Tripathi, 22, left his Providence apartment on March 16 without his wallet, identification, and cellphone. He left behind a vague note that hinted at suicidal intent.

Since then, his family has relocated to Providence to search for him. More than 10,000 people are following the Facebook page "Help Us Find Sunil Tripathi."

On Tuesday, a body was found floating in the river off India Point Park by a Brown rowing coach, said Lindsay Lague, public information officer with the Providence police. A comparison of dental records needs to be completed before an identification can be made, she said. Lague did not know if those records had been requested from the Tripathi family.

Tripathi was on "approved leave" from Brown at the time of his disappearance.

"We are awaiting with concern confirmed information about the identify of the individual found," said Darlene Trew Christ, spokeswoman for Brown. "Our thoughts remain with the family during this trying time."

Last week, Tripathi, a 2008 graduate of Radnor High School, was wrongly tied to the Boston Marathon bombings after Internet sites reported incorrectly that he had been identified as a suspect on a police scanner.

On Wednesday, followers offered support and prayers.

A family spokesman could not be reached for comment.