The school senior from upstate Latest York who went missing while studying abroad in France had said he was struggling to make friends and felt “insufficiently prepared” for all times in Europe.
Ken DeLand Jr., a student at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, last contacted his parents on Nov. 27 via WhatsApp after leaving his host family’s home for a train to Valence, France. His phone hasn’t been pinged since Nov. 30, police said.
DeLand had been attending the University of Grenoble Alpes, but was fighting the adjustment, a prosecutor in Grenoble who’s looking into the case told local French media.
The 22-year-old lamented that he was “insufficiently prepared” to live in France and didn’t have friends, the official said.
“Initially, Ken struggled to slot in and make friends abroad,” his family wrote on a web site dedicated to finding him.
The prosecutor’s office said of their statement that DeLand “appears to have left Grenoble voluntarily.
“He also mentioned that he desired to go to Marseille before returning to the USA.”
DeLand was last seen carrying a black backpack and wearing a red jacket, scarf, gray beanie and blue plants. His bank statement shows he made a purchase order at a sports store on Dec. 3 within the southeastern city of Montelimar for $8.40. It’s unclear what he purchased, but nobody has hear from him in over every week since.
“We fear the worst and wish him to be positioned,” his family said.
Through the web site arrange by his family, there have been plenty of suggestions which have are available in, in keeping with his dad, DeLand snr, who added to CNN he has passed them on to the FBI.
“I’m hoping that Interpol has gotten involved, and we’ve been interviewed by several news media stations and we’re hoping we will, along with your help and the assistance of others, we will get the word on the market,” he told the news channel.