COLLEGE PARK, MD — A University of Maryland student who had been the focus of a days-long search was found alive, according to University of Maryland Police Department officials. Dilan Ashar, 22, was reunited with his family after his disappearance prompted concern across campus and in the surrounding community.
Police said Ashar was last seen around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 2 on security cameras at the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage. Officials had described him as critically missing after he vanished without his phone or identification, adding urgency to the search.
Last seen on campus security cameras near Terrapin Trail
The last confirmed sighting of Ashar came from security video at the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage, where he was recorded early on Oct. 2. University police said he did not have his phone or ID with him when he disappeared, which complicated efforts to track his movements.
The disappearance quickly became a serious campus matter because of the limited information available after he was last seen. Without a phone or identification, investigators and volunteers had little to work with beyond the parking garage footage and the timeline that followed.
Police searched more than 110 acres around the garage
UMPD said officers searched more than 110 acres near the garage where Ashar was last seen. The search extended across a large stretch of campus-adjacent ground as police tried to find any sign of him.
Prince George’s County police assisted early in the effort, according to campus officials. The scale of the search reflects how quickly the case drew in multiple agencies and how seriously authorities treated the disappearance from the start.
Family plea and community response helped sustain the search
News of Ashar’s recovery came about a day after family members made an emotional plea asking for help locating him. Their appeal added a personal face to the search and helped keep attention on the case while officers continued looking for him.
University police also credited the broader community for helping spread the word. In a statement, UMPD said the effort depended on the “immense efforts” of officers and the support of “our entire community,” noting that students and other residents shared information as the search unfolded.
UMPD says Ashar was reunited with his family
On Wednesday, police announced that Ashar had been found alive and reunited with his family. Authorities did not release additional details about where he was located or how he was found.
UMPD officials publicly thanked those who took part in the search and those who helped amplify updates. The department said the response showed the strength of the university community when one of its own was missing.
Relief follows a case that drew wide concern across campus
The outcome brought relief after several days of uncertainty surrounding a student whose disappearance was widely shared and closely followed. What began as a missing-person case near one parking garage became a community effort involving police, family members and people connected to the university.
Ashar’s safe return ended the immediate search, but police did not provide more information about the circumstances of his disappearance or what happened during the days he was missing. For now, officials say the important fact is that he has been found and is back with his family.
What police have said so far about the missing person case
Police have not said whether any criminal activity was involved, and they have not described the circumstances that led to Ashar being found alive. The key details released so far are the timeline, the location of the last sighting and the fact that he was critically missing before being recovered.
The case also highlights how quickly campus alerts can mobilize a broad response when a student disappears under uncertain circumstances. In this instance, university police, county officers, family members and members of the public all played a role before the search reached a safe ending.
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