The parents of 22-year-old Ken DeLand Jr., an American college student studying abroad in France, have reported him missing. The family have set up a website in an effort to share information about their son, who they say has been missing since last month. The parents say they last heard from their son, known as Kenny, on Nov. 27 when he was boarding a train to Valence in southeast France, and that they “fear the worst and want him to be located.” DeLand Jr. is roughly 6 ft tall and weighs 190 lbs. He was last seen wearing a red jacket, scarf, grey beanie, blue jeans/slacks, black backpack, and sneakers, according to the website set up by the family.
DeLand Jr. was studying at the University Grenoble Alpes in France through a study abroad program. Kenny left his host family’s residence and was headed to Valence on Sunday, Nov. 27, which is a two-hour train ride from Grenoble, according to the family’s website. His family says they last spoke to him via messaging service WhatsApp and have not heard from him since. A surveillance camera captured DeLand Jr. entering a sports store in Montelimar in southeast France on Dec. 3, where he made a purchase for $8.40. DeLand Jr.’s Facebook page has been inactive since Nov. 19, eight days before his family says they last heard from him. His study program was supposed to end on Dec. 17 and his visa expires early next year.
Grenoble’s public prosecutor said in a statement that it had opened an investigation following a report on Nov. 29 “by students, of the disturbing disappearance of a 21-year-old American student who had come to Grenoble to study French … The young man reportedly told several people that he had arrived in France insufficiently prepared and that he had difficulty making friends. He appears to have left Grenoble voluntarily … He also mentioned that he wanted to go to Marseille before returning to the United States.”
A university spokesperson said that university officials were in “close contact” with the study abroad agency, American Institute for Foreign Study, which is working with French law enforcement on the search for DeLand Jr., adding that “our campus community remains hopeful that Kenneth will be found safe and return home.”
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