Body found in search for missing student

Authorities on Friday afternoon found a body believed to be that of a Texas A&M University Galveston Campus student who had been reported missing a day earlier, university administrators said.

Using a drone, authorities spotted the body, suspected to be that of Maritime Academy Cadet Brandon Lee Perlowski, on Pelican Island near the campus while conducting a search operation, said Marissa Barnett, a spokeswoman for the Galveston Police Department. Identification of the body had not yet been confirmed.

While the county’s medical examiner and police planned to continue investigating Perlowski’s death, Chief Vernon Hale said the probe had “not found any suspicion of foul play” in the death.

The discovery came after school officials responding to a requested wellness check Thursday night found Wesley Jerome Mallernee, a marine biology student from Conroe, dead in his residence hall room. His cause of death was confirmed on Friday as related to a pre-existing medical condition.