COLLEGE PARK, MD — A University of Maryland student who had been missing since Friday morning has been found safe, university police said Wednesday night.
Campus police said 22-year-old Dilan Ashar was safely reunited with his family after a days-long search that included University of Maryland police and Prince George’s County police. Ashar had been reported critically missing on Saturday, and officers spent the weekend and early part of the week looking for signs of him around the campus area.
Police did not say where Ashar was found. They said the search began after his parents raised concerns during a meeting with officers on Friday.
Police began searching after concern was raised to officers Friday
According to University of Maryland Police, officers and Prince George’s County police met with Ashar’s parents on Friday after the family expressed worry about him. Ashar was last seen that morning, and the case quickly moved into a missing-person search.
The student’s status was later upgraded to critically missing, prompting a broader response from law enforcement. By Wednesday night, university police said the search had ended with good news: Ashar had been located and was back with his family.
Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the disappearance or how he was eventually found. The university and county police had both been involved in the effort from the start.
Sunday sweep covered about 110 acres around the garage
One of the more intensive search efforts came Sunday, when campus police searched roughly 110 acres around a garage near the university. Despite that large sweep, officers said they found no trace of Ashar at the time.
The search area shows how quickly the case expanded beyond a routine check. With the student still missing, police continued to gather information and follow up on leads through the rest of the weekend and into the next week.
University police have not said whether the garage itself was linked to where Ashar was last seen, but it was a focus of the search operation. The effort reflected the urgency of the case as police tried to locate him.
Family video helped draw public attention to the missing student
On Monday, Ashar’s family released a video asking the public for help finding him. That appeal added another layer to the search as relatives tried to widen awareness beyond the campus and law-enforcement response.
The family’s request came after several days without an update on Ashar’s whereabouts. Public appeals like that often help keep a missing-person case visible while investigators continue working through the facts they have.
In this case, the video became part of a multi-day effort that involved police, family members and members of the public who may have recognized the student or seen something relevant to the investigation.
What police said Ashar was wearing when he was last seen
University police released identifying details and said Ashar was last seen on surveillance video. He was wearing a black University of Maryland hooded sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and white shoes.
Police described him as about 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 185 pounds. Those details were shared to help people recognize him and report any information that might assist the search.
Authorities also asked anyone with information to contact University of Maryland Police at 301-405-3555 or send an email. By Wednesday night, however, police said Ashar had been found safe, ending the active search.
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