Missing 20-year-old New Jersey midshipman found dead near Annapolis Naval Academy

Second Class Kyle Philbert James, a Navy midshipman who was reported missing on October 9, was found dead near the Annapolis, Maryland, campus, and the United States Naval Academy is now investigating his death.

According to Annapolis News Report20 year old James was found dead Oct. 10, a day after he was reported missing from the academy. No details have been released about his disappearance, where he was found or the cause of death. James’ family confirmed that his remains were discovered near the Naval Academy. An autopsy is planned to determine the soldier’s cause of death.

Naval Academy officials informed James’ family that the officer had not shown up for his classes on October 9 and was considered missing. They were then contacted the following evening to inform them that his remains had been discovered near campus.

The Capital Gazette reported that James, who greets of Whippany, New Jersey, had reportedly contacted his mother via text the morning he reportedly went missing. In the text message, he responded to a message she sent him and wrote that he loved her.

“It is painful to lose a member of our Naval Academy family, and as we seek to better understand this tremendous loss, we extend our deepest condolences to the family, close friends, classmates and business associates of Philbert James during this extremely difficult time,” the academy said in a statement.

Academy officials said the Navy midshipman was in his junior year, studying history and a member of the academy’s gospel choir.

The Naval Academy sent an email to academy families confirming Midshipman James’ death. It said the Midshipmen Development Center and the chaplain center would contact fellow midshipmen.

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