American student disappears while studying in France. Family members ‘fear the worst’

A worried New York family is holding out hope in the search for a 22-year-old American student who officials said vanished while studying in France.

Ken DeLand is a student at St. John Fisher University studying at the University Grenoble Alpes in Grenoble, about 330 miles southeast of Paris, DeLand’s parents said on a website dedicated to finding their son. He told his family on Nov. 27 that he was leaving his host family and taking a train to Valence, a city in south France about 60 miles southwest of Grenoble.

His family and friends have not heard from him since, his parents said.

According to DeLand’s bank statements, he made a $9 purchase at a store in Montélimar, about 30 miles southwest of Valence, on Dec. 3, his family said.

DeLand is on the French missing persons list, according to a news release from The Assistance and Search for Disappeared Persons Association updated on Monday, Dec. 12.

“We fear the worst and want him to be located,” his family said.

St. John Fisher University told McClatchy News’ on Dec. 12 that it “will continue to do all it can to assist in the investigation to find Kenneth DeLand. University officials have stayed in close contact with the American Institute for Foreign Study who is working with local law enforcement on the search, as well as Kenneth’s family to offer support to them during this time. Our campus community remains hopeful that Kenneth will be found safe and return home.”

DeLand is about 6 feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen on a store’s security camera wearing a red jacket, scarf, gray hat, and blue jeans with a black backpack.

If DeLand tries to leave France by train using his passport, authorities will be alerted, his family said. However, there are other ways to travel without using a passport.

Because DeLand is an adult, his family said they “cannot receive updates” from “the university as well as local, national and international police.” The family asked for help from anyone who knows people in the areas where DeLand was last seen.

Google Translate was used to translate the news release from The Assistance and Search for Disappeared Persons Association.

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