TOPSHAM, ME – A tragic incident unfolded on Sunday as a college student was found lifeless in a parking lot near the Frank J. Woods Bridge. The Topsham Police Department confirmed that the victim was a 20-year-old female student from California who was studying at Bowdoin College.
Although the police did not disclose the student’s identity, Bowdoin College President Safa Zaki identified her as Qingyang Zhan in an official statement. The police were alerted to the situation around 7 a.m. Sunday morning after receiving a report of a deceased individual in the parking lot at 2 Main St.
The body of the young woman has since been moved to the Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy will be performed. The authorities are currently awaiting the results.
The police are still investigating the incident but have assured the public that there is no immediate threat. In the statement released by President Zaki, the college community was informed of Zhan’s untimely demise. Known to many as K, Zhan was originally from Shanghai, China, and had been living in the United States since 2019. She attended school in California before enrolling at Bowdoin College in the fall of 2021.
Zaki’s statement highlighted Zhan’s vibrant and engaging personality, with faculty members fondly remembering her warmth and kindness. Her academic advisor, Jean Yarbrough, described Zhan as a student deeply interested in theological and philosophical questions.
Zaki expressed deep sorrow over Zhan’s death, acknowledging the devastating impact on her family, friends, classmates, and the entire Bowdoin community. The college is offering extended counseling hours for students this week in response to this tragic event.