Where is Kenny DeLand? 22-yr-old NY student who 'loved to travel' vanishes while studying abroad
GRENOBLE, FRANCE: A 22-year-old has been reported missing for almost two weeks while studying in France. Kenny Deland, an American student was on a study abroad program in southeastern France. Kenny's parents have launched a website to spread awareness as they are desperately trying to find him.
Kenny was a senior at St John Fisher University in New York. He is identified as 6 ft tall and 190 lbs. The 22-year-old was last seen wearing a red jacket, scarf, grey beanie, blue jeans/slacks, black backpack, and sneakers. The last time his parents heard from their son was on November 27. According to his family, he boarded a train near the university and headed south for Valence, France.
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"This can't be possible. How did he go missing? What happened," said Deland's mother, Carol Laws. During his study abroad program in southeastern France, he was due to return home the next week, but in later November laws said she received a distressing call from a college liaison. "She said that she had to file a missing person report because they had not seen him in 24 hours,' Laws recalled. "I'm not there. I'm here mile -- thousands of miles away."
The distraught family said they were in constant touch with their son who enjoyed his time abroad. "He loves to travel. So this trip has been something that he's really looked forward to. It's not characteristic of Kenny to not reach out to us and let us know what's going on," said Deland's father, Kenneth Deland. During the day of his travel, Kenny's phone pinged along the way. On December 3, he was tracked to a sports store in Montelimar at 9.am where he spent $9. "It would be extremely important to understand who he has talked to, maybe in his age group in France or maybe he's talked to people back here in the United States on the phone," said former FBI agent Brad Garrett.
Kenny’s bank was made aware of his disappearance and provided authorization to police to track purchases. French authorities are investigating and said it is a "worrying disappearance" but citing privacy laws, as Kenny is an adult. His loved ones are searching for him and just want answers. "If anybody has a way to help us find him, help us with the officials. Please help us," Laws pleaded. His parents fear the worst and want him to be located.
