An American student who went missing in France more than two weeks ago has been found in Spain after he saw himself on the news and contacted his parents.
Kenneth DeLand Jr, a 22-year-old New York college student was reported missing on November 29 from Grenoble, France, where he had been studying abroad.
After a multinational search and two weeks of uncertainty, DeLand’s parents got an early morning call on Friday from their son.
They later released a statement revealing DeLand told them he was in Spain and he had seen himself on the news.
DeLand’s mother Carol is in France and will be preparing to see her son and bring him home for Christmas, the family said.
Kenneth DeLand Jr., the American student who went missing in Grenoble, France, more than two weeks ago is alive and in Spain, his father Ken DeLand Sr. told CNN on Friday
DeLand, who went missing in France more than two weeks ago has been found in Spain after he saw himself on the news and contacted his parents, according to a new statement
DeLand’s family posted a picture of their son next to the statement on their website revealing that the student reached out to his parents after seeing himself on the news
The news was first announced on CNN when his father Ken DeLand Sr. was on a call with the network when he suddenly hung up. He then messaged to say he had spoken with his son.
‘He is alive, that’s all I can say,’ said DeLand Sr., who has said in recent days that he had not heard from his son since November 27.
French Prosecutor Eric Vaillant later confirmed in a tweet DeLand Jr. is currently 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.’
DeLand was reported missing on November 29, and was last spotted on December 3 on security footage while shopping in the town of Montélimar, about 87 miles from Grenoble, where he had been studying abroad.
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 US 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, Deland’s family updated their website with the good news that he had reached out to them and was safe in Spain.
‘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,’ they wrote.
The statement continued: ‘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. We also want to thank St. John Fisher College, the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), French Administrations, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, especially the Rochester and Buffalo branches, Congress Woman Claudia Tenney, and Senator Pamela Helming. We also want to extend our love and appreciation to our fantastic community for rallying together.
Without everyone’s help, we wouldn’t have our Son, hopefully, home Christmas.’
DeLand Sr. (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. No additional details were given
French Prosecutor Eric Vaillant confirmed that Kenneth DeLand Jr. is in Spain
DeLand Jr.’s fellow students reported him missing on November 29, prompting the university officials with file report with the French officials and launch an investigation, according to a statement from the prosecutor released.
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 Jr.’s phone last pinged at the Valence train station at 7 p.m. CEST. There’s been no phone activity since.
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.
DeLand Jr. had not been seen since Dec 3 when he was spotted shopping in a Decathlon store in the town of Montélimar, about 87 miles from Grenoble, where he’d been studying abroad
Surveillance footage shows the college student (pictured entering the store in a red jacket) in his last known appearance. DeLand was located safe in Spain on December 16
His family’s last contact was a WhatsApp message on November 27 telling them he was taking a train to Valence in southeastern France
DeLand Jr.’s fellow students reported him missing on November 29, prompting investigation
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 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.’