The body Nicholas Pratico, an 18-year-old New Jersey college student who had been missing for over month, has been found near campus, police say.
According to reports, the body of Pratico, 18, was found near the campus of Mercer County Community College on the morning of Monday, October 23. Authorities said an autopsy will be performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine his cause of death.
Investigators had released surveillance images showing Pratico’s last known location. Pratico was seen at Mercer County Community College on Wednesday, September 20, wearing a blue t-shirt and blue backpack. His parents reported him missing later that night.
He was found on October 23 by Hamilton police and State Police along Old Trenton Road across from the community college.
via Community News:
The body of Nicholas Pratico was found around 10 a.m. by Hamilton and state police officers across from Mercer County Community College on Old Trenton Road. Pratico’s family reported him missing on Sept. 20. He was last seen that same day at Mercer County Community College.
In the weeks since his disappearance, his family and friends set up a “Find Nick Pratico” Facebook page. They also held a prayer service at Notre Dame High School and offered a reward for any information that led to his safe return. Police did not release any information on the cause of death. An autopsy, set to be performed by the Middlesex County Medical Examiner’s Office, will determine the official cause of death.
In their statement, the Hamilton Police Division extended its deepest condolences to the Pratico family and thanked the contributing state, local, county agencies and civilian volunteers for their assistance in searching for Practico.
According to Hamilton police Sgt. Brian Schroeder, a volunteer found Pratico’s school ID on a campus lawn near the Edinburg Road entrance a few days after Pratico went missing.
Local authorities are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact Detective Len Gadsby of the Hamilton Police Division Criminal Investigations Section at (609) 581-4032 or the Hamilton Police Crime Tip Hotline at (609) 581-4008.
Pratico, a Hamilton, New Jersey resident, attended Notre Dame High School in Lawrence Township, New Jersey.
