Lucas Mattson Death and Obituary – The University of Michigan community is grieving the tragic loss of Lucas Mattson, a 19-year-old sophomore engineering student who was found deceased in Ann Arbor on Saturday, January 24, 2026. His sudden passing has left family, friends, classmates, and faculty members in deep shock as authorities continue working to determine the exact cause of death.
Lucas Mattson was reported missing after he was last seen in the early hours of Friday, January 23. According to the Ann Arbor Police Department, Lucas was last observed at approximately 1:00 a.m. in the 1700 block of Hill Street. He was seen walking alone during severe winter conditions brought on by Winter Storm Fern. Witnesses reported that he was wearing only a T-shirt and jeans, notably without a coat, despite dangerously low temperatures.
Concern grew when Lucas did not return home or make contact with friends or family. Roughly 15 hours after he was last seen, authorities officially classified him as missing. An extensive search operation was immediately launched, involving multiple police agencies, search teams, and drone units scanning neighborhoods and open areas across Ann Arbor.
After nearly 20 hours of searching, Lucas Mattson’s body was discovered around noon on Saturday, January 24, in the 1900 block of Cambridge Road. Investigators noted that the location where he was found was strikingly close to where he was last seen — estimated to be only a six-minute walk or roughly one block away. The proximity of the discovery site has raised questions about how the events of the night unfolded, though investigators have not yet released further details.
At the time of discovery, authorities stated there were no obvious signs of trauma on Lucas’s body. The Ann Arbor Police Department confirmed that foul play is not currently suspected. However, the official cause and manner of death remain under investigation and will be determined by the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office in the coming days.
Lucas was known among peers as a bright and motivated engineering student with a promising future ahead of him. Friends describe him as intelligent, kind-hearted, and dedicated to his studies. His death has prompted an outpouring of condolences across campus, with university officials offering grief counseling and support services to students affected by the loss.
As the community mourns, Lucas Mattson’s passing also serves as a solemn reminder of the dangers posed by extreme winter conditions. University officials have urged students to remain cautious during severe weather and to look out for one another during late-night hours.
Lucas Mattson will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His family, friends, and the University of Michigan community await further information from medical authorities while honoring his memory and the impact he made in his short but meaningful life.