Her father was preparing to cheer her at her college graduation next week - but instead, he’s mourning daughter Paige Aiello, the missing New Jersey student whose body was identified by police Thursday.
“The search is over,” said the 21-year-old’s father Christopher Aiello, his voice quivering.
The beautiful College of New Jersey student went missing on April 9 — two days before her 22nd birthday, officials said.
Cops believe Aiello jumped from the George Washington Bridge because they found her purse, cell phone and car keys were found on the span’s south walkway.
The body ultimately washed up near E. 158th St. in Washington Heights at around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.
In the nearly month-long search for Paige, her father had accepted she took her own life — but when three women escaped a hell house in Cleveland, he started considering an alternative scenario.
“Someone could have kidnapped her and put her bag on the bridge,” he said. “I kept thinking that someone had her and the horrors that could be happening to her.”
Paige Aiello seemed to have everything to live for. The co-captain of her school tennis team, she had been accepted to nine law schools.
“We don’t know of any precipitating event,” he said. “But high achieving kids have this self-imposed stress. In Paige’s case it came on very quick.”
Aiello said his daughter’s burial won’t be for more than a week out of respect for her classmates graduating next Thursday, her father said.
“We don’t want to do anything to upset these young people,” said Aiello. “They should be enjoying themselves and reveling in their graduation.”
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