Missing Student Body Found Dead? Sunil Tripathi from Brown University Allegedly Pulled from Providence River after Reddit's Boston Bomber False Identity

Several reports confirm that authorities may have recovered missing Brown University student Sunil Tripathi's lifeless body from the Providence River on Tuesday, April 23. The 22-year-old Rhode Island college student went missing on March 16. Following Tripathi's disappearance, anxious Reddit users quickly misidentified him as the Boston Marathon bomber after devastating explosions claimed the innocent lives of three individuals on Monday, April 15. The true suspects have since been identified and Reddit apologized for the false accusation. The medical examiner's office has yet to positively identify the body, but police insist it's "very possible" that it belongs to the missing Tripathi.

Tripathi (known by his friends as "Sunny") was last seen on March 16 near his apartment close to the Brown University campus. On that day, he had tea with a friend, spoke on the phone with his grandmother, texted his aunt from Boston, and then texted his mother later that evening. When his sister Sangeeta Tripathi tried to reach him on Saturday, she got no response.

He allegedly left his home without taking his wallet, cellphone, or bike. He also left a short note behind. Reports confirm that he was wearing blue jeans, an Eastern Mountain Sports ski jacket, glasses, and a Philadelphia Eagles hat.

A "Help Us Find Sunil Tripathi" Facebook page soon went viral following the young man's disappearance:

Sunil Tripathi has been missing from Providence, RI since the morning of Saturday, March 16th. He's 6'0, 130 pounds, with brown eyes and short brown hair. He left wearing blue jeans, a Philadelphia Eagles beanie, and a black sweatshirt. He is essentially off the grid since he does not have his ID, wallet, or cell phone. 

Please share this page, and please keep an eye out for him. If you see him, or have any kind of lead on where he might be, please contact the Providence police at (401) 243-6191.

Contact us at helpusfindsuniltripathi@gmail.com

The body of an unidentified man was pulled from the Providence River behind Wyndham Garden Providence Hotel by the coach of Brown's rowing team at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Authorities claim it most likely belongs to Tripathi, although they have yet to inform the family.

After several social media outlets falsly identified Tripathi as the Boston Marathon bomber, Reddit user "FindBostonBombers" sent out this apology last week:

I'd like to extend the deepest apologies to the family of Sunil Tripathi for any part we may have had in relaying what has turned out to be faulty information. We cannot begin to know what you're going through and for that we are truly sorry. Several users, twitter users, and other sources had heard him identified as the suspect and believed it to be confirmed. We were mistaken.

This event shows exactly why the no personal information until confirmation rule is in place. Out of respect for Tripathi and his family, I ask that users here please remove any and all links about him. Thank you.

Thoughts and condolences go out to Tripathi's family and friends during this difficult time.