BALTIMORE, MD — A University of Maryland student who disappeared last week was found safe Wednesday night after spending six days in the woods, according to University of Maryland Police Chief David Mitchell.
The student, Dilan Ashar, 22, was last seen Oct. 2 at about 2:30 p.m. in the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage. Police said he was located around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The university said soon after that Ashar had been found and reunited with his family. Leaders thanked students, staff and community members who helped spread information during the search.
How the search ended Wednesday evening
Mitchell said Ashar was discovered by Howard County Search and Rescue after emerging from the woods. When he approached the vehicle, he knocked on the driver’s side window and asked, “Are you looking for me?”
Police said the search team found him while working through the wooded area where he had been missing. The encounter marked the end of a dayslong effort that involved university police and outside help.
Authorities did not give additional details about where in the woods he was found, but they said the rescue came after an extended search period.
Ashar's condition when rescuers reached him
Mitchell said Ashar was dehydrated, disoriented and extremely hungry when rescuers found him. After being located, he was taken to an area hospital.
Officials did not immediately describe any other injuries or provide an update on his longer-term condition. Police said the hospital visit was part of the immediate response after he was found.
The short statement from investigators focused on getting Ashar medical attention first. Police said that once he is medically ready, they plan to speak with him.
Where Ashar was last seen before he vanished
Police said Ashar was last seen in the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage on Oct. 2 at about 2:30 p.m. That location became the starting point for the search that followed.
From there, university police and search crews spent nearly a week looking for the missing student. The timeline shows that the search stretched across several days before Wednesday night’s breakthrough.
Authorities have not publicly explained how Ashar ended up in the woods or what happened during the days he was missing.
University response and community support
The University of Maryland said the outcome brought relief after days of concern on campus. In a message after he was found, the school said its community had played a major role in keeping the search active and visible.
University leaders thanked Terps and other community members who helped spread the word. They also credited the efforts of University of Maryland Police and others involved in the search operation.
School officials did not announce any changes to campus operations, but their public comments made clear that the campus had been focused on bringing Ashar home safely.
What investigators expect to do next
Mitchell said investigators intend to speak with Ashar after doctors clear him to talk. That conversation is expected to help police fill in the missing parts of the case.
For now, the main confirmed facts are limited to when Ashar was last seen, where he was found and how he was discovered. Police have not released a fuller explanation of his time in the woods.
The case ended in a positive outcome, but officers said their next step is to learn more from Ashar himself once his medical condition allows it.
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