George DeLany, a junior political science major at Rochester Institute of Technology, has been missing March 12. His disappearance has prompted concerned classmates, friends, family members and even strangers to canvas local regions and beyond with posters and flyers.
According to news channel 18 WETM of Elmira-Corning, N.Y., DeLany lives in an off-campus apartment in Chili, NY and was last seen by roommate Andrew Baker. "We were getting ready to go to the gym – and he said ‘be right back' and that's the last we heard from him," Baker said.
Records indicate that DeLany withdrew a small amount of cash from an ATM near a truck stop in Dansville, N.Y. later that day. His car was found abandoned on March 13 on a snowmobile trail just off Ward Road in Wayland, N.Y. where it had apparently gotten stuck.
State police have conducted intermittent physical searches of the rural area with assistance from K-9 units, Steuben County sheriff's deputies, state forest rangers, the Wayland Volunteer Fire Department and Massasauga Search and Rescue Team.
"He's not familiar with this area down here," state police captain Rick Allen told Rochester's Your News Now network. "He has no contacts or any reason to be down here. He does make a phone call around 7:47 Saturday [March 12] night. Now, it's dark. He may have just gotten disoriented and walking around, which could put him anywhere."
The Frederick News Post, based out of DeLany's hometown of Frederick, Md., reported that the phone call was made to a friend who lives on Long Island and went directly to voicemail. DeLany's father said the voicemail detailed frustrations with school and housemates and possible plans to drop out of college. Investigators told 13 WHAM in Rochester that DeLany's phone was turned off or died shortly afterward.
On Sunday, The Evening Tribune of Hornell, NY reported that state police senior investigator Rick Kemp said DeLany's cell phone, financial accounts and social networking sites have seen no activity since he was reported missing.
DeLany is 21 years old and therefore his disappearance did not trigger nationwide search systems like Amber Alert. Several RIT students have created a Facebook group, "Students Searching for George DeLany," that has grown into a hub of discussion, speculation and organization in the continuing search.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call state police at 585-398-4100.