Ken DeLand’s phone was last pinged on November 30
By Landon Mion
Last month, an American college student who was studying abroad in France went missing, according to his parents.
On November 27, Ken DeLand Jr., a 22-year-old senior at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, last messaged his parents. He made that contact after departing from his host family’s house to board a train bound for Valence, France.
He has also stopped posting on social media since November 27. The last time DeLand’s phone was ping-ed, according to his father, was on November 30.
In an effort to learn more about their missing son’s whereabouts, the family set up a website.
DeLand’s bank authorized police to track his purchases after learning of his disappearance. He made a purchase at a store at 9 a.m. on Dec. 3 in the town of Montelimar, according to his bank statement.
His family’s website said he was last seen wearing a red jacket, scarf, grey beanie, blue pants, a black backpack and sneakers. They said he is about 6 feet tall and 190 pounds.
The family also provided a photograph from a surveillance camera of him walking inside a sporting goods store on Dec. 3.
“We fear the worst and want him to be located,” the family’s website reads.
French authorities said DeLand has officially been reported missing.
DeLand was studying abroad at the University of Grenoble Alpes through the study abroad program called the American Institute for Foreign Study.
The program said in a statement that it “joins others concerned for his safety and we are working with local law enforcement who have begun a search. We have been in contact with Kenneth’s family and university and we are hoping for his swift and safe return.”
DeLand’s father said in an interview that a liaison from the program had contacted the family and said he did not attend class.
