COLLEGE PARK, MD — A 22-year-old University of Maryland student who had been reported missing has been found safe, police said Wednesday night. Authorities said he has been reunited with his family.
Police did not say where the student was found or explain the circumstances that led to his return. The case had been labeled critical after he was last seen early Oct. 2 at the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage.
The update ended a search that had drawn attention across the university community. Before the student was located, his family had appealed publicly for help through UMD police.
Student was last seen near Terrapin Trail Parking Garage
Police said the student was last seen at about 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 2 at the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage. That detail helped frame the search and the urgency behind the missing-person alert.
The student’s disappearance prompted a critical designation, a label that signals heightened concern and usually brings broader attention from campus and law enforcement officials. In this case, investigators shared limited information as they tried to locate him.
The timeline also gave family members and friends a specific window to focus on as they looked for possible sightings or surveillance footage. The garage location became the central point around which the search was organized.
Family asked College Park residents to check cameras
Before the student was found, his family released an emotional video through the university police department asking for the public’s help. The video showed three family members seated together and holding hands as they appealed for information.
His mother urged people who live or work near College Park to review doorbell, car and business cameras from early Friday and later. She also asked business owners to post missing-person signs around storefronts.
The plea reflected the urgency families often feel when a loved one disappears without explanation. It also showed how quickly relatives turned to neighbors, employers and local residents for any clue that might help police.
University police kept the search focused on the community
UMD police were the main agency handling updates as the search unfolded. Their messages gave the public a way to stay informed while keeping the investigation centered on the missing student’s location and safety.
The university thanked the community for supporting the search. That acknowledgment suggested the effort reached beyond campus and relied on people in and around College Park who shared information or remained alert for possible sightings.
Police did not release additional information about the student’s whereabouts or whether anyone else was involved in the events surrounding his disappearance. For now, the confirmed outcome is that he has been found and reunited with his family.
University prepares support for students after the case
After the student was found, the university said it would make resources available for students who may still be processing what happened. Those resources include the university’s mental health website, the University Counseling Center, the Faculty Staff Assistance Program and university chaplains.
That response recognizes that a missing-person case can affect more than one family. Students who knew the missing student, or who followed the search closely, may still need support even after the immediate concern has passed.
By pointing people to counseling and chaplain services, the university signaled that the emotional impact of the case remained part of the story. Officials did not say how long those services would be emphasized, but the message was clear: help was available.
What police have and have not said so far
The central facts are now limited but clear. The student is safe, he is with his family, and police have not disclosed where he was found or how the search ended.
That leaves some unanswered questions about the circumstances of his disappearance. Police also did not provide any further details about whether the student had contact with others while missing or what prompted the critical designation.
Even with those gaps, the immediate concern that began when he was reported missing has been resolved. The university community that followed the case now has confirmation that the search ended with a safe outcome.
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