Qingyang Zhan Death: Recently, a Bowdoin College student was found dead in a parking lot near the Frank J. Woods Bridge in Topsham, Maine.
Topsham Police said the victim was a 20-year-old woman from California who was attending Bowdoin College.
Police did not release the woman’s name. However, Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki released a statement identifying the student as Qingyang Zhan.
Let’s explore what happened to Qingyang Zhan and learn about the cause of her death.
Who was Qingyang Zhan?
Qingyang Zhan was born in Shanghai, China, and has lived in the U.S. since 2019. Zhan was otherwise known as K.
According to police, around 7 a.m. on Sunday, April 1, 2024, she was found dead in a parking lot near the Frank J. Woods Bridge in Topsham, 2 Maine St.
The woman’s body has been transported to the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy to be conducted. Officials are awaiting the results, and the incident remains under investigation.
Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki’s statement notified the campus community of Zhan’s death. Qingyang went to school in California before starting at Bowdoin College in the fall of 2021.
College President Safa Zaki wrote, “Faculty members describe K as a bright and engaging presence, and many will remember her warmth and kindness.”
Her academic advisor, Jean Yarbrough — the Gary M. Pendy Sr. Professor of Social Sciences — described K as a student who was deeply interested in the most important theological and philosophical questions.
K participated actively in the Asian Student Association and assisted in founding the Chinese Students Association at Bowdoin. She had a double major in Asian studies, government, and legal studies. She also played the piano and guitar in the Bowdoin Concert Band and worked as a learning assistant for Asian studies at the Baldwin Center for Teaching and Learning.
Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki said, “For K’s parents, brother, and other loved ones, as well as her friends, classmates, and the entire Bowdoin community, her passing is a tragedy. It is tough to take in this news, especially since we don’t yet know how K died.
Qingyang Zhan Cause of Death
Yet, nobody has disclosed the exact cause of Qingyang Zhan’s death. The cause of death is still under investigation.
Obituary and Funeral Plans
Qingyang Zhan’s funeral plans will released by the family at a later date.
