A 20-year-old second-year student of the University of Cape Coast has been confirmed dead after her body was discovered washed ashore at Hutchland Beach in Cape Coast on Friday, June 12, 2026.
The Cape Coast District Police Command has confirmed that significant progress has been made in identifying the deceased, following earlier public appeals for assistance. The victim has been identified by her family as Innocentia Atsufui Avinu, a student of the university.
According to information from police sources, the deceased was formally identified at the morgue of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The identification process was conducted in the presence of family members, officials from the University of Cape Coast, and police personnel.
The university’s Dean of Students also participated in the verification process alongside investigators.
A preliminary physical examination of the body was carried out during the identification process. Authorities reported that no immediate visible signs of assault were detected at the time of inspection.
However, police have emphasized that a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.
The regional crime scene management team has since visited Hutchland Beach, where the body was discovered, and processed the scene as part of ongoing investigations.
The body remains at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy results. Authorities say investigations are still active as they work to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The management of the University of Cape Coast and the student body have been formally informed of the development
