MIT Student’s Body Recovered Drowned

The body of a fifth-year undergraduate MIT student who had been missing for nearly two weeks was found washed ashore on Cape Cod last Thursday, according to news reports.

The body of Daniel J. Barclay, 22, was found by a woman walking on Scussett Beach in Sandwich, MA., and was identified by Barclay’s mother on Friday, according to the Boston Globe. The cause of death was drowning.

Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe told the Globe that the way in which Barclay drowned was still unclear.

“There are no indications thus far that foul play is involved,” O’Keefe said.

An MIT administrator released a statement Friday following Barclay’s death.

“We offer our sympathy, prayers and support to Daniel’s family and friends as they grieve the loss of a bright and positive member of the Institute community,” said Kirk D. Kolenbrander, vice president for Institute affairs.

According to The Tech, MIT’s student newspaper, Barclay’s last communication was an away message that he had left on his AOL Instant Messenger account, which read, “I have to meet with some sketchy people I thought I’d never have to deal with ever again in east Cambridge.”

Barclay’s mother, Susan Kayton, told the Globe that she thought that Barclay, whose body was found along with the remnants of a rubber raft, could also have enjoyed escaping to the Boston Harbor Islands.

“We think he went out to Boston Harbor to find a quiet place to sit and think and get away from it all,” she told the Globe. “But we will never know…He did not leave a note.”

—Rebecca M. Anders and Anna L. Tong contributed to the reporting of this story.

—Staff writer Reed B. Rayman can be reached at rrayman@fas.harvard.edu.