Missing West Point cadet found dead on academy grounds

A 20-year-old West Point cadet who had been missing since Friday was found dead Tuesday night at the military academy in New York, the school announced in a Wednesday statement.

Cadet Kade Kurita, from Gardena, Calif., was found dead on Tuesday at 9:47 p.m. The academy did not release details about the circumstances of his death.

“We are grieving this loss and our thoughts and prayers go out to Cadet Kurita’s family and friends” said Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams, superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy.{mosads}

Kurita had been missing since Friday around 5:30 p.m. when he failed to report for a scheduled military skills competition.

A massive search ensued with the assistance of West Point Military Police, New York State police, Coast Guard, CSX railroad police, local police and the 23rd Military Police Company from Fort Drum, N.Y.

West Point previously said that searchers had covered over 6,000 acres but efforts were hampered early Tuesday by poor weather conditions.

Col. Cecil Marson, garrison commander of West Point, said in a Tuesday statement that officials believed Kurita was in the vicinity of the military academy because there had been no cell phone or financial activity for 72 hours.

The school had noted that a M4 rifle was unaccounted for but the cadet was not believed to have had any magazines or ammunition.

“At this point, there is no indication Kurita poses a threat to the public, but he may be a danger to himself,” the school said in a statement before his body was recovered.

It is unclear if the rifle has been recovered.