Body pulled from river may be that of missing Brown student Sunil Tripathi

GlobalPost

Rhode Island police are investigating whether a body pulled from a river near Providence is that of missing Brown University student Sunil Tripathi, whose name was mistakenly spread in connection with the Boston bombings.

Police said the body was found floating in the river by the coach of the Brown rowing team.

The body was male, aged between 20 and 30, and appeared to have been in the water for several days, according to Fox News.

Tripathi, 22, known as "Sunny," and originally from Bryn Mawr, Pa. lived in an apartment in Providence.

He had been reported missing since March 15.

While admitting that he had been going through a "tough time," his sister Sangeeta Tripathi told the Associated Press the Ivy League student had been acting normal during the time leading up to his disappearance.

The FBI had been helping relatives search for Tripathi, who reportedly enjoyed spending time at libraries and the chess club.

Providence police Lieutenant Joseph Donnelly said "it's very, very possible" the body is that of Tripathi, although it would take a while to make a positive identity.

ABC News wrote that the medical examiner's office was planning an autopsy for Wednesday.

An identity may not be immediately confirmed, however.

More from GlobalPost: Reddit apologizes for falsely accusing missing student Sunil Tripathi

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