MADISON BOROUGH, NJ (Morris County) – The body of missing Drew University student Ajay Sah has been found, according to acting Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll.
Sah, 22, is a foreign exchange student from Nepal and was attending Drew University Madison Borough. He was last seen on campus on January 19, 2021, an investigation confirmed Sah traveled by NJ Transit train to New York Penn Station, Carroll said.
Surveillance footage observed an individual believed to be Sah in New York City on the Brooklyn Bridge at around 5:00 a.m. on January 20, 2021. He was seen traveling alone and carrying a backpack, Carroll said.
Despite the relentless efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, Sah’s disappearance has remained a mystery until additional evidence was discovered. Sah’s backpack was discovered by a citizen on a beach in Sea Bright, New Jersey and its contents were turned over to authorities in late April, Carroll said.
On March 9, an unidentified body was discovered in Anchorage Channel in Brooklyn, New York. Initially unable to confirm an identification, New York City Police Department notified the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons Unit on April 25 and after detectives conferred, the unidentified body was later confirmed to be Sah by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York through the use of X-ray analysis, Carroll said.
“The final death certificate is pending,” Carroll said.
Acting Prosecutor Carroll indicated the University has fully cooperated in the investigation and expressed his appreciation for their assistance, including their establishment of counseling and grief services for friends of Sah and available to the campus and surrounding community.
“The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office extends its condolences to the Sah family for their loss. 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. We pray the Sah family finds closure following the tragic loss of their family member. I’d also like to thank the public for its help in getting the word out about this missing person,” Carroll said.
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Missing Persons and Hi-Tech Crimes units, Madison Police Department, NYPD Counter Terrorism Unit, NYPD Missing Persons Unit, NYPD MPU – Morgue Unit, NJ Transit Police, and New Jersey State Police MPU assisted in the investigation.
