The nearly three weeks that American study abroad student Ken DeLand Jr. spent missing in Europe have remained “a blur” in the days since the New Yorker reappeared in Spain and was reunited with his family, loved ones said. on Tuesday.
DeLand, 21, was reunited with her mother on Saturday in Lyon, France, after she called her parents from Spain a day earlier, loved ones and officials said. His family issued a statement Tuesday thanking the community and those who helped him while he was missing, adding: “What Kenny went through while he was missing is still a blur.”
AMERICAN STUDENT KEN DELAND MEETS MOTHER, HEADING HOME, OFFICIAL SAYS
“Kenny is a joy to so many: his family, friends, colleagues, students, parents, and everyone who knows him,” the statement read. “[W]We as a family continue to be with Kenny as he heals and processes.”
READ THE FULL STATEMENT BELOW:
Statement provided by the family of Kenneth DeLand Jr. on December 20, 2022.
(Family of Kenny DeLand Jr.)
It was unclear Tuesday if DeLand was still in Europe or when he would return to the US. No additional details were provided about DeLand’s whereabouts and activities during his time missing.
KEN DELAND: AMERICAN STUDENT MISSING IN FRANCE FOUND ALIVE IN SPAIN, SAYS OFFICIAL
General view of the library of the University of Grenoble in Grenoble, France, on December 13, 2022.
(Julien Reynaud/Abaca Press for Fox News Digital)
The St. John Fisher University student was studying abroad at Grenoble Alpes University in Grenoble when he was last heard from on November 28, his family said. He was reported missing the next day after he did not attend class, and his host family and friends did not know anything about him.
Alert posted December 16, 2022 on the FindKenDeLand.com website.
(FindKenDeLand.com)
She called her parents from Spain after seeing herself in media reports, her family said at the time.
“Without the help of the media, Kenny would not have been on the news,” his family said in a post announcing that DeLand had been located on December 16.
Alert posted December 16, 2022 on the FindKenDeLand.com website.
(FindKenDeLand.com)
“Kenny is in Spain and Carol (his mother) is in France getting ready to see Kenny and hopefully bring him home for Christmas,” the post continues. He then adds, “Without everyone’s help, we wouldn’t have our Son hopefully home for Christmas.”
KEN DELAND: FRENCH POLICE REPORT SAYS US COLLEGE STUDENT MISSING IN ‘FRAGILE MOOD,’ ‘MAY BE DEPRESSED’
A general view of the Grenoble city limits in Grenoble, France, on December 13, 2022.
(Julien Reynaud/Abaca Press for Fox News Digital)
The 6-foot, 190-pound college student, originally from Sodus, New York, was seen on surveillance footage at a sports store in Montelimar, France, around 2:45 p.m. local time on December 3, when he made a $8.40 purchase.
KEN DELAND: MISSING AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENT IN FRANCE HAD TROUBLE MAKING FRIENDS, MAY HAVE LEFT VOLUNTARILY
An Interpol Yellow Notice was issued shortly after DeLand was reported missing in France.
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DeLand was expected to complete his study abroad program one day after he was safely located.
Fox News’ Ashley Papa contributed to this report.
