BREAKING NEWS: Father of American student who went missing in France more than two weeks ago says son has been found alive in SPAIN – and reveals he’s spoken with the 22-year-old
- Kenneth DeLand Jr., 22, had not been seen since December 3, when he was spotted shopping in a Decathlon store in the town of Montélimar, France
- His father Ken DeLand Sr. told CNN on Friday that he got word that his son is alive, and said he had spoken with him. He did not provide any other details
- Deland, a senior at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, has been studying abroad this semester at the University of Grenoble Alpes
The American student who went missing in France more than two weeks ago has been found alive in Spain.
Kenneth DeLand Jr., 22, had not been seen since December 3, when he was spotted in the town of Montélimar, about 87 miles from Grenoble, where he’d been studying abroad.
On Friday, his father Ken DeLand Sr. was on a call with CNN when he suddenly hung up. He then messaged the outlet and told them he had spoken with his son.
‘He is alive, that’s all I can say,’ DeLand Sr. said, but would not give additional details.
French Prosecutor Eric Vaillant told CNN that DeLand Jr. is in Spain. He added that the student had only spoken with his parents.
Kenneth DeLand Jr., the American student who went missing in Grenoble, France, more than two weeks ago is alive, his father Ken DeLand Sr. says
His father Kenneth DeLand Senior (right) was on the phone with CNN when he suddenly hung up. He then messaged CNN saying he had good news and that his son was alive
DeLand Sr. described his son as a ‘good student’ who ‘enjoyed school’ to PIX11News adding that his son vanishing is ‘very puzzling.’
The 22-year-old New York college student went missing during a semester abroad in France and was set to graduate in May next year with a dual major in psychology and pre-law.
DeLand Jr.’s fellow students reported him missing on November 29, prompting the investigation, according to a statement from the prosecutor released Monday and obtained by CNN.
Deland is a senior at St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, who has been studying at the University of Grenoble Alpes, which is 75 miles southeast of Lyon in eastern France, according to his family.
Vaillant said that DeLand Jr. had also mentioned that he ‘wanted to go to Marseille before leaving for the United States.’
But DeLand Jr.’s parents previously said couldn’t understand why their son had not made contact since November 27 and said it’s ‘not characteristic of Kenny.’
DeLand Jr. was expected to leave France on December 15, according to the prosecutor’s statement.
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