A Benedict College sophomore was found dead Saturday in a Lancaster County pond days after he was reported missing.
Jerell Ketron Eugene White, 22, had been last seen Wednesday around 1 a.m. when surveillance footage showed him hopping a fence around 1 a.m. His body was found in a pond roughly 50 feet from where he was last seen, WBTV reported.
An autopsy was scheduled for Sunday.
Meanwhile, Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile released this statement Saturday:
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. White’s family and friends during this difficult time. I have spent time with his mother and other family members, and I know these last few days have been hard for them as they and authorities have searched for Mr. White. This is not the outcome any of us hoped for, but we expect the autopsy results and the SLED forensics investigation will provide answers to the questions we have about Mr. White’s disappearance and death.”
Amid the spreading rumors, White’s family wanted the public to know that they do not believe his death was racially motivated, WBTV reported. However some have suggested that foul play was involved.
On Sunday, Benedict College released a statement that described White as a “bright and talented student who will be dearly missed.”
“Please join the Benedict College Family as we pray for our fallen tiger and his family,” the statement read.
Benedict mourns the loss of one of its fearless tigers, Mr. Jerrell Ketron Eugene White. Please join us in praying for the White family.?? pic.twitter.com/CozWI7iUd4
— Benedict College (@BenedictEDU) July 9, 2017
