Who was Ajay Sah? Body of missing Drew University student, 22, found in Brooklyn after months-long search
MADISON, NEW JERSEY: The body of a 22-year-old Nepalese college student Ajay Sah was discovered by Morris County prosecutors after he went missing from his New Jersey campus months ago.
On January 22, 2021, Sah, an international student, was reported missing from the campus of Drew University in Madison. According to local reports, Sah was last seen taking a train to New York City on January 19, 2021, at around 11 pm. What happened after that, no one had a clue. Investigators reportedly had no further evidence of what happened after, Acting County Prosecutor Robert J Carroll has said.
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For a long time, nothing was known until Sah’s backpack was eventually discovered by a citizen in the Jersey Shore town of Sea Bright. This was over 50 miles from his campus. The bag was turned over to authorities in late April.
On March 9, 2021, an unidentified body was found in the Anchorage Channel in Brooklyn. At first, the NYPD could not confirm the identification and it was only much later, by April 25, that the authorities would contact officials in Morris County. The New York City Chief Medical Examiner confirmed it was Sah through x-ray analysis. "The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office extends its condolences to the Sah family for their loss," Carroll said in a statement. "The circumstances of this disappearance were challenging, however, were investigated thoroughly by the MCPO, Madison Police Department and its law enforcement partners. We appreciate all of the hard work put into tracing Mr Sah's movements."
Who was Ajay Sah?
22-year-old Ajay Sah was a mathematics major at the university with a minor in physics, and a resident advisor at Drew University in Madison. He stayed on campus year-round. According to the reports online, he was also a front desk attendant at the university centre and a student government senator.
His family wrote on a GoFundMe page for him, "Ajay was known for his adventurous spirit, contagious smile, and most importantly, his unconditional kindness. His warmth truly touched the lives of all those around him."
Sah was quite popular among students and has been described as "one of the most vibrant students on campus" by Frank Merckx, Drew University vice president. In honour of the Nepalese international student, Mayor Robert Conley has ordered that flags on campus and in Madison will fly at half-mast. According to Drew University's official website, a service of remembrance will also be held, but details are forthcoming.
In February, Sah's brother, Shiva Sah, launched a GoFundMe page seeking donations to help pay for the cremation, to fly the immediate family members to New Jersey for his cremation, and for other religious and cultural rites to be conducted over the period of one month.
At the time of writing this article, it had raised $35,543 of $75,000 goal.