Kenneth DeLand, the New York state college student who went missing in France since last month, was found alive in Spain nearly three weeks after his disappearance, an official confirmed Friday morning.
Deland, a 21-year-old St. John Fisher University student, was studying abroad at Grenoble Alpes University in Grenoble when he was last heard from on Nov. 28, his family said. He was reported missing the next day after he hadn’t attended classes and his host family and his friends hadn’t heard from him.
Grenoble prosecutor Eric Vaillant confirmed in a translated tweet that DeLand had spoken to his parents on Friday morning and was in Spain.
DISAPPEARANCE OF KEN DELAND: TIMELINE OF THE DISAPPEARANCE OF AN AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT WHILE STUDYING ABROAD IN FRANCE
Ken DeLand enters a Decathlon sporting goods store in Montelimar on December 3, 2022.
(findkendeland. com)
Ken DeLand smiles in an undated photo on his Instagram story
(Instagram/Ken DeLand)
A spokesperson for Vaillant’s office added in a statement provided to Fox News Digital that “Ken Deland was able to get in touch with his parents today and is expected to be currently in Spain.” DeLand’s family did not respond to multiple confirmatory inquiries on Friday and no further details were provided.
The six-foot, 190-pound college student, originally from Sodus, New York, was later spotted on surveillance footage at a sporting goods store in Montelimar at around 2:45 p.m. local time on Dec. 3 when he made a purchase of $8.40. St. John Fisher University is located in Rochester, New York.
KEN DELAND: FRENCH POLICE REPORT SAYS MISSING AMERICAN STUDENT IS IN ‘FRAGILE MOOD’, ‘MAY BEING DEPRESSED’
General view of the Grenoble city limits in Grenoble, France on December 13, 2022.
(Julien Reynaud/Abaca Press for Fox News Digital)
A yellow notice from Interpol was issued shortly after DeLand was reported missing in France.
KEN DELAND: AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT MISSING IN FRANCE HAD TROUBLE MAKING FRIENDS, HE MAY HAVE LEFT VOLUNTARILY
Ken DeLand overseas
(findkendeland.com)
Ken DeLand smiles in photos abroad.
(findkendeland.com)
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DeLand was expected to complete his study abroad program on December 17, 2022.
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
