Kenny DeLand Jr: Missing NY student, 22, studying abroad struggled to fit in and make friends
GRENOBLE, FRANCE: The college student from upstate New York who vanished while abroad in France claimed he was having trouble making friends and that he felt "insufficiently prepared" for life in Europe. After leaving his host family's home for a train to Valence, France, on November 27, St John Fisher University student Kenny "Ken" DeLand Jr last spoke with his parents via WhatsApp.
His phone has not pinged even once since November 30, reported New York Post. According to a Grenoble prosecutor looking into the issue, DeLand was enrolled at the University of Grenoble Alpes but was allegedly having trouble adjusting. The official reported that the 22-year-old expressed regret over being "insufficiently prepared" to live in France and about lacking companions. In an effort to raise awareness, DeLand's parents have set up a website. They are frantically attempting to locate him. “Initially, Ken struggled to fit in and make friends abroad,” his family wrote on a website dedicated to finding him. DeLand "appears to have left Grenoble voluntarily," according to the prosecutor's office's statement. “He also mentioned that he wanted to go to Marseille before returning to the United States.”
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At St John Fisher University in New York, DeLand was a senior. He is described as being 6 feet tall and 190 pounds. He was last observed sporting a red jacket, scarf, gray beanie, and blue plants in addition to a black backpack he held onto. According to his bank record, he spent $8.40 on a transaction on December 3 at a sports shop in Montelimar, a city in the southeast. No one has heard from him in more than a week, however, it is unknown what he bought. “We fear the worst and want him to be located,” his family said.
His father, Kenneth Deland, told CNN that the FBI has received several tips through the website his family put up. He said that he had forwarded them 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 can, with your help and the help of others, we can get the word out there,” he told CNN. DeLand's bank was informed of his disappearance and gave authorities permission to monitor purchases. Given that DeLand is an adult, French authorities are looking into what they are calling a "worrying disappearance," but they are claiming privacy regulations. His family is looking for him and only wants to know the truth.