Dad of US student who went missing in France says he’s alive in Spain

The American student who went missing in France more than two weeks ago has been found alive in Spain, his father has revealed. Kenneth DeLand Jr. (pictured), 22, who was reported missing on November 29, was last spotted on December 3 on security footage while shopping 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 that he had spoken with his son. ‘He is alive, that’s all I can say,’ revealed DeLand Sr., who has said in recent days that he had not heard from his son since November 27.

French Prosecutor Eric Vaillant confirmed in a tweet that DeLand Jr. is currently in Spain. He added that the student had only spoken with his parents. 

The 22-year-old senior who attends St. John Fisher University in Rochester, New York, went missing while studying abroad this semester at the University of Grenoble Alpes, which is 75 miles southeast of Lyon in eastern France. Deland Jr. had planned to graduate in May next year with a dual major in psychology and pre-law. He was scheduled to return to the U.S. on Saturday. The French prosecutor had previously mentioned that he Deland also ‘wanted to go to Marseille before leaving for the United States.’ 

On Friday, Vaillant tweeted the news that Deland Jr. had been located in Spain. ‘We have just learned that the young Kenneth Deland had been able to exchange with his parents today. He would be in Spain.’ On December 3, Deland Jr. was spotted on surveillance cameras at the sporting goods store with bank records showing that he made a purchase of $8.40 at 9am (pictured).

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. His family was informed their son was missing by a college liaison worker who contacted them after he failed to report to class and didn’t return to his host family. 

Deland’s parents, who had not made contact with their son since November 27, previously said they couldn’t understand why their son had not been in contact and said it’s ‘not characteristic of Kenny.’ DeLand Sr. described his son as a ‘good student’ who ‘enjoyed school’ to PIX11News and had said that his son’s disappearance was ‘very puzzling.’ 

Deland’s mother Carol Laws (pictured) continued to message her son every day while he was missing: ‘I say Kenny, Kenny just call me. Just pick up the phone, you can talk to me about anything. That’s what I text him, call me, text me, anything.’ The family launched a website to raise awareness about his missing status.  

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