UPDATE: Missing College Student Found Dead

UPDATE: Missing Washington College student Jacob Marberger was found dead Saturday near Hamburg, police in Chestertown, Md. said. The investigation is ongoing by Pennsylvania State Police.

NBC10 reports Marberger was found inside a parked SUV with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding at this difficult time,” Chief Adrian Baker said in a statement.

Washington College released the following statement on Marberger’s passing:

It is with great sorrow that we must inform you this evening of the passing of sophomore Jacob Marberger. We extend our deepest sympathies to the Marberger family in their time of unimaginable grief.

This is a terrible blow to our community, and the outpouring of compassion and support we have shown each other will help us through this difficult time. We need to continue to be supportive of each other as we mourn individually and as a community.

Counseling services will be available for students when they return to campus.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A Montgomery County man who prompted a days-long evacuation of a Maryland college is still missing as a GoFundMe page created in support of him was taken down after an uproar.

Classes at Washington College in Maryland were cancelled this week after Jacob Marberger, a student there, went missing. He may be armed, authorities say.

Marberger, 19, allegedly returned to his parents’ home in Cheltenham earlier in the week and took a case that may have contained a firearm, according to reports. Cheltenham High School was locked down for a day as a precaution.

Classes at Washington College, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, have been cancelled through until November 30, and more than 1,400 students were evacuated from campus.

Marberger reportedly was not doing well in school, having been kicked out of Phi Delta Theta fraternity last week, resigning his position as speaker of the senate in the college’s student government, and facing charges for having an antique gun at the fraternity house, The Intelligencer reported.

In support of Marberger, alumni of Washington College banded together to create a GoFundMe campaign for him. That page was taken down after it caused controversy among people who believed funds should go to displaced students or the police department.

“Approximately $100 a class. That is what the tuition costs me to attend this institution. This whole incident has cost me $1600 out of pocket in missed classes alone. I also am an out of state student who has to drive over 17 hours to attend this school and have no family in the area,” one person wrote on Facebook, where the link to the online fundraiser was shared.

“How about raising money for the families that graciously took other parents children in for days while this was developing? How about raising money for students that rely on work studies to pay their tuition and for books?,” another person said.

Before the page was taken down, at least 16 people had donated a total of $1,270 for Marberger.

Chestertown, Maryland police chief Chief G. Adrian Baker said that Marberger’s last known location was Hamburg, Pennsylvania on Monday morning at about 7:30 a.m.

Marberger is 5’4”, 130 pounds, and has brown curly hair. He was last seen driving a 1997 dark green Land Rover with a Pennsylvania plate beginning with “JWY”.

Washington College President Sheila Blair reached out to Marberger via a Facebook post, imploring him to be safe:

Jacob: We know these past few days must have been extremely stressful for you. We’re asking you to contact your parents and let them know that you’re safe. Your family misses you. Your friends in the Washington College community are worried about you and want to see you home safe and sound.

With reporting by Patch editor Justin Heinze.