Missing college student Kenny DeLand Jr. is alive, his father says - CNN

Paris CNN  — 

Kenny DeLand Jr., the American pupil who was reported missing much than 2 weeks agone successful Grenoble, France, is alive, his begetter Ken DeLand Sr. told CNN connected Friday.

DeLand Jr. is successful Spain, French Prosecutor Eric Vaillant told CNN, adding lone that the young antheral had spoken Friday with his parents.

DeLand Jr.’s begetter had been successful the mediate of a telephone with CNN erstwhile helium abruptly hung up. He aboriginal messaged CNN to study “good news” – and said he’d conscionable spoken with his son.

“He is live – that’s each I tin say,” helium told CNN.

Deland Sr. did not elaborate connected what his lad told him and did not explicate wherever his lad has been for the past 2 weeks.

A elder astatine St. John Fisher University successful Rochester, New York, DeLand Jr. had been studying astatine the University of Grenoble Alpes, according to his family. His parents successful caller days said they had not heard from him since November 27.

His chap students reported him missing connected November 29, prompting Vaillant to motorboat an investigation, the Grenoble authoritative had said.

The pistillate who had hosted DeLand successful France thought helium whitethorn person near voluntarily, she told CNN earlier helium was recovered – echoing a mentation Vaillant put guardant this week.

But the young man’s parents didn’t judge that was the case, and his begetter arsenic precocious arsenic Wednesday decried what helium called a effect from authorities that was not sufficiently urgent.

Interpol connected Thursday issued a Yellow Notice for DeLand, saying helium went missing connected November 27. Such notices are issued to assistance find missing persons, often minors, oregon to assistance place anyone who cannot place themselves, according to Interpol.

DeLand had been scheduled to instrumentality to the US connected Saturday, his begetter said earlier helium was found, adding that though the pupil liked to spell hiking, helium would ever support successful touch.

“For him to not scope out, with nary correspondence, this is precise uncharacteristic of my son,” DeLand Sr. told CNN’s Anderson Cooper connected Wednesday. “This is what creates each the interest that immoderate genitor could ever feel.”

“As clip goes by, it makes you interest adjacent more.”

When Vaillant announced Monday helium was investigating DeLand Jr.’s disappearance, helium said the pupil seemed “to person near Grenoble voluntarily.”

“The young antheral reportedly told respective radical that helium had arrived successful France underprepared and was having trouble making friends,” Vaillant said Monday.

The pupil had been seen connected December 3 successful a store successful the municipality of Montélimar, astir a 90-mile thrust southwest of Grenoble, Vaillant said.

And Deland had mentioned helium wanted to spell to Marseille, a metropolis on the Mediterranean immoderate 190 miles southbound of Grenoble, earlier returning to the US, Vaillant said.

Of each the students DeLand’s big parent had welcomed, helium seemed to person the astir occupation fitting in, the pistillate told CNN this week connected the information of anonymity retired of interest for her privacy.

When the big parent hadn’t heard from DeLand, she inundated him with messages trying to fig retired wherever helium was, but helium did not reply, she said. Learning that he’d been seen December 3 was reassuring, she said, due to the fact that she felt it confirmed her suspicions helium whitethorn person near and chopped disconnected communications voluntarily.