Coeymans

After five weeks, the search for Connor W. Trapatsos has ended in tragedy.

On Thursday, police identified the body found Wednesday on a Hudson River shoreline as that of Trapatsos, 17, a student at The College of Saint Rose in Albany.

The freshman from Fairport, Monroe County, known as "Trapper," was last seen on Oct. 15 in the Selkirk area.

Coeymans Police Chief P.J. McKenna said the injuries to the teenager's body indicate that he fell from a railroad bridge near the bridge that connects the Thruway with the Berkshire Spur.

"We have no reason to suspect foul play," McKenna said. "The bridge is probably 40 feet above the tree canopy and then it's a severe 45-degree drop, so you're talking another 40 feet to the ground."

The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the legs, pelvis and left arm, McKenna said.

He said it did not appear that Trapatsos was struck by a train. An investigation is continuing.

The confirmation of the student's untimely death prompted an outpouring of support for the Trapatsos family on a Facebook page titled "Find Trapper." It showed photos of the bespectacled teenager, an animal lover, happily posing with a pet dog and cat and even with a chicken last Halloween, and seated on a couch with his family.

"I am so sorry that this was the way it ended. My thoughts are with you and heart breaks for you," wrote one woman on the page on Thursday afternoon.

"Words cannot express the feelings of losing a child," wrote another woman." My heart goes out to your family during this horrible time. May you find comfort in each other."

Saint Rose officials said grief counselors would be available for students, faculty, staff and administrators.

"Our prayers are with Connor's parents, his siblings and other family and friends in Fairport, New York, and with our own community as we mourn Connor," the college said in a statement. "Every member of the Saint Rose community is a part of our extended family, and at times of loss we put our hearts, minds, and spirit into supporting each other. We are stronger together than we are alone."

McKenna said Coeymans police received a call from CSX railroad police at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday that a body had been found near the shoreline by CSX employees.

Coeymans and CSX police, along with town firefighters, divers and a Ravena rescue unit, went to the scene. Investigators called in a State Police forensics unit and contacted the Albany County sheriff's office and police in Albany, Bethlehem and the University at Albany about missing persons.

Trapatsos was identified by dental records during an autopsy at Albany Medical Center Hospital on Thursday by forensic pathologist Michael Sikirica.

Trapatsos left Brubacher Hall alone and carrying a backpack, which was recovered at the scene along with glasses and earphones for an iPad, McKenna said. The time of death is consistent with the date of Trapatsos' disappearance, he said.

Police have said that information from Trapatsos' computer showed he had been looking up bus routes. He was seen getting change and taking a bus from Crossgates Commons on the morning of Oct. 15. He got off the bus in Glenmont before heading to the Selkirk area,

The disappearance sparked an extensive search.

On Oct. 22, Trapatsos' parents, LuAnn and Christopher Trapatsos, released an emotional video begging him to contact them. Family and friends said Connor was an introvert who sometimes needed time to himself.

"Connor, we love you so much. We miss you. We just want you to come home," LuAnn Trapatsos said on the video, released by UAlbany police. "We don't care about school or grades. Nothing else matters unless you are happy and healthy. You belong with us. We want you with us. Please call someone. Find someone with a phone. Just call us and we'll come and get you."

"You don't have to say where you went or why you went and we don't have to talk about it," his father said. "We just want to hold you."

rgavin@timesunion.com • 518-434-2403 • @RobertGavinTU