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Ken DeLand Jr: Missing NY college student, 29, reunites with family in France, heading back home

After reporting himself safe to his father from Spain on December 16, 2022, missing student Ken DeLand Jr has reunited with his mother Carol Laws

BY OWAIS FAROOQI

PUBLISHED DEC 18, 2022

Ken DeLand Jr was reported missing after he did not attend classes and his host family and friends had not heard from him (Ken DeLand Jr/Facebook)

LYON. FRANCE: After reporting himself safe to his father from Spain on December 16, 2022, Ken DeLand Jr, 29, who was reported missing on November 29, has reunited with his mother Carol Laws as he waits to be repatriated. The St John Fisher University student was studying abroad at the University Grenoble Alpes in Grenoble, France, when he was last heard from on November 28.

His family reported him missing after he did not attend classes and his host family and friends had not heard from him. Ken reportedly contacted his family after reading news stories of him being reported missing. Now, DeLand is expected to soon return to the United States, according to European officials, as per a report by FOX News.

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Ken DeLand Jr "is currently in Lyon with his mother and they should be taking a plane together for the United States today during the day,” Grenoble public prosecutor Eric Vaillant said in a statement on Saturday, as per NBC News. However, his father Ken DeLand Sr could not yet confirm whether his son had boarded a returning plane from France.

"We are so happy to announce that Kenny is safe; we received a call from Kenny in the early morning hours on December 16, 2022. Kenny is in Spain, and Carol (his mom) is in France, preparing to see Kenny and hopefully bring him home for Christmas," his family announced on a website after Ken was located. "We want to thank all the Media members for their diligence and swift attention in spreading the word about our Son. Without the media's help, Kenny would not have seen himself in the news and reached out to us," the statement further read.

They previously said on the website that DeLand “struggled to fit in and make friends” when he first arrived in France, but eventually “made great connections.” “It is vital to note Ken has friends in France, and they are the ones who initially reported him missing to the school and continue to show support and check in for updates on Ken,” they said.

A spokesperson for St John Fisher University, which is located in Rochester, New York, wrote in a statement to Fox News, "We are relieved by this news, and will continue to support Kenneth and his family in any way we can."