Police say autopsy results on the body of a woman pulled from the Rideau River who family have identified as missing Carleton University student Nadia Kajouji are expected on Tuesday.
The body -- which was discovered by a passing boater behind St. Paul's University in Ottawa late Sunday morning -- is awaiting an autopsy to be performed in Toronto Tuesday morning.
While Ottawa police are yet to confirm the body is that of Kajouji, family and friends of the first-year university student say they know the body belongs to their daughter and friend.
Missing for more than a month
Kajouji was last seen leaving her dorm room in Ottawa on March 9 after spending her university reading week with family.
The 18-year-old Brampton, Ont. native's family said she was depressed and not acting herself in the days leading up to her disappearance. Although her family said they knew something was wrong, her father, Mohamad Kajouji said he had no idea how deeply distressed his daughter was.
He had told CTV News that his daughter had tried to harm herself before and was receiving counselling and taking medication.
Foul play not suspected
Meanwhile, Ottawa police say they do not suspect foul play in connection to the body recovered from the river.
"(There are) no visible signs of trauma other than those associated with being underwater for a long period of time," Acting Insp. John Maxwell told CTV News following the discovery.
Friends and family have continued searching for Kajouji since her disappearance six weeks ago.
Reeling from the news
Kajouji's fellow classmates at Carleton University say the stress of not knowing what happened to their friend has been hard to deal with. Now, in the midst of exams, students are reeling from the news Kajouji's parents have confirmed her death.
"I think the whole campus community is so deeply in tune with what's been going on that I think any closure is good but it's just the worst possible outcome," Carleton University student Alysha Hasham told CTV News.
The news spread quickly on social networking sites like Facebook where hundreds of people have posted notes of condolences to Kajouji's family.
Carleton University President Dr. Samy Mahmoud issued a statement on Sunday, saying: "I am profoundly saddened by the news of the reported discovery of Nadia. After widespread collective efforts to find Nadia safe and sound, this is the saddest possible outcome for her family, friends and classmates. "
The university's chaplain and counsellors are available to offer any assistance to those who might need help dealing with the outcome of Kajouji's disappearance.
