WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Law enforcement officials are asking the public and members of the Purdue community to take part in a broad search effort Thursday (Jan. 18) to help find a missing university student.
Police were alerted to (http://www.wlfi.com/dsp_story.cfm?storyid=73189) Wade S. Steffey’s disappearance on Tuesday (Jan. 16) after family and friends became concerned that he had not been seen since late Friday (Jan. 12). Steffey, a freshman majoring in aviation technology from Bloomington, Ind., was last seen at a party at the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house, 900 David Ross Road, and was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with light blue stripes and light-colored jeans. At 1:11 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 13), Steffey’s bank account was accessed at an automated teller machine at 1122 W. Stadium Ave., which is located in the lobby of Ford Dining Court.
Steffey is white with short brown hair and brown eyes, is 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 150 pounds.
Anyone with questions about the public search effort or who has any information about the case is asked to call the Purdue Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at (765) 496-3784.
The other day I saw flyers in one of the buildings and thought it was a joke or an announcement by friends for a 21st birthday, both of which are quite common. The flyer didn’t look serious at first, so I just read the large text (“Have you seen Wade?”) below his picture and passed it on. The next day I paid more attention to it and, sure enough, it was a serious notice of a missing student.
Yesterday, as I was waiting for the bus home, some police officers ran through the crowd with a bloodhound. At dinner with friends later, one brought up seeing the cops/bloodhound and, me not thinking at first, we mused that they must have been doing some drug bust/search. Then I thought and said, “Oh, they’re probably looking for that missing student.”
For his family’s and friend’s sake, I hope he is found safe and well.
UPDATE:
Wade Steffey’s body was found on Purdue’s campus Monday, March 19 in a dormitory residence hall. More information about Wade and how to help support his family and friends is available at WadeSteffey.net.
EDITED 07-24-08: Link to WLFI article expired.
Unfortunatley, yes, this is the case. Wade Steffey, 19, of Bloomington is still missing as of Sunday and police still need help attaining any information that is available. Anyone with more information about this case is asked to contact Purdue Police at 765-494-8221. More information is available at http://www.purdueexponent.org