All about Misrach Ewunetie’s parents: Her ethnicity detailed

The search for Princeton student Misrach Ewunetie culminated in the discovery of her body behind the university’s tennis courts. According to a statement for VP W. Rochelle Calhoun posted on the institution’s website, authorities observed that there were ‘no obvious signs of injury and her death does not appear suspicious or criminal in nature.’ The statement continued:

“Misrach’s death is an unthinkable tragedy. Our hearts go out to her family, her friends and the many others who knew and loved her. We are planning an opportunity for students to join together and remember Misrach.”

Misrach’s family, including her parents, spearheaded search efforts for several days. 

Misrach’s parents emigrated from Ethiopia in 2008 and settled in Ohio

Misrach’s parents moved to the United States from Ethiopia in 2008 and settled in Ohio. Ewunetie spent most of her life in the United States but still held Ethiopian citizenship. She was supposed to attend an interview pertaining to her American citizenship on 15th October 2022, but she didn’t show up. 

Ewunetie was last seen on Friday at around 3 a.m. near her dorm. As reported by The Daily Princetonian, Misrach volunteered at the Terrace Club on Thursday night. She left for the night along with other members on duty. 

Misrach’s housemates didn’t consider her absence alarming – they assumed she’d traveled home to spend time with her family during Princeton’s one-week fall break. 

Ewunetie’s brother, Universe, said the family wasn’t happy with her move to New Jersey because of the distance from Ohio. Misrach was the class of 2020 valedictorian at Cleveland’s Villa Angela – St. Joseph High School, earning a full scholarship to Princeton. 

Universe told CNN that her father tried contacting Ewunetie on the 14th but couldn’t reach her, so he assumed she was busy. Ewunetie didn’t respond the following day either, and by Sunday, her phone was off. Family members reached out to her friends, who said she was sleeping in the dorm on Friday morning. 

“Not well,” Universe replied to a question from The Sun about his parents’ response to Ewunetie’s disappearance. “They have not eaten or slept basically since Sunday, especially my dad. She is the gem of the house, they’re only daughter and the youngest. She is very loved.”

Misrach’s mother, Tiruedil Kassa, described her daughter as quiet and kind. “She’s such a trusting person, just a lovely person,” Kassa said. 

Ewunetie’s brother said the police withheld information from the family during the search

Universe, Misrach’s brother, told CNN that police interaction with the family was insufficient. “There was no constant update or interaction with us,” Universe said. “The times they have communicated with us it’s been just to tell us they’re doing things and it takes time. Which we don’t have.”

He told The Sun that Misrach’s phone sent its last signal on the 16th in a residential park around seven minutes away by car from campus. Universe said the police searched the area twice with dogs before he joined them for another look at the location. He said:

“The third time I joined them with my girlfriend and we were only there for half an hour with the lead detective and two other university officers. They only searched the back, they couldn’t get a warrant to check houses around there.”

Universe opined that the police didn’t spend enough time searching the wooded and shrubby area near the residence. He also said it was unlike Misrach to switch her phone off. Universe added that Misrach hadn’t opened up to him about any personal problems – the family was sure she had no mental health issues.

“With the pandemic, the first year they were not on campus, so that was difficult for her and for a lot of people,” Universe said. “But this year she’s been trying to get in this Terrace Club, and that was her way of making friends.” Misrach’s friends told Universe that she wasn’t dating, he said. 

Universe’s claims that the police weren’t forthcoming about information concerning Misrach’s search have sparked some fury on the internet, with some netizens claiming that authorities and the media show racial bias when handling and reporting disappearances. @elwinslow tweeted:

“Misrach Ewunetie was found. By the tennis courts. For anyone unfamiliar with Princeton, google the address of Terrace Hall and then the courts – they’re practically adjacent. I will say this right now – if this had been a missing white woman, she would’ve been found days ago. 

Misrach’s family has yet to release a statement following the discovery of Ewunetie’s body.