Police investigation continues on missing Purdue student

Wade Steffey

More than 350 volunteers helped officials on Thursday (Jan. 18) to search the campus perimeter for additional clues on the disappearance of Wade S. Steffey, 19, a freshman from Bloomington, Ind. Steffey, a National Merit Scholar majoring in aviation technology, has been missing for nearly a week.

On Friday (Jan. 19) police began asking people to display a flyer with a photo of Steffey. The flyer is available online at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/html3month/2007/071019SteffeyFlyer.pdf

"Thanks to the volunteers we were able to cover a large area during Thursday's search," said Purdue spokesperson Jeanne Norberg. "We thank everyone for their assistance, and we want to encourage members of the community to continue to look in areas where they live and work."

Norberg said police are particularly interested in any items of clothing, cell phones, wallets and other personal effects, such as identification cards.

Thursday's search, which also included campus and area law enforcement officials and members of the Purdue Fire Department, began at 2 p.m. and concluded around 5:30 p.m. Norberg said that, in addition to the outdoor search, university employees also coordinated searches of campus buildings.

Police were alerted to Steffey's disappearance on Tuesday (Jan. 16) after family and friends became concerned that he had not been seen since early Saturday (Jan. 13). Steffey attended a party at the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house, 900 David Ross Road, on Friday evening and was wearing a white long-sleeved shirt with light blue stripes and light-colored jeans.

Police received a tip that a person matching Steffey's description was seen at the northwest corner of Owen Hall around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, near the time when a call was placed from his cell phone to a female student who lives there. Steffey had reportedly left his coat in Owen Hall, Norberg said.

Steffey's bank account was accessed around 8:30 p.m. Friday (Jan. 12) at an automated teller machine at 1122 W. Stadium Ave., 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 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.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Jeanne Norberg, Purdue University News Service director, (765) 494-2096

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: All media inquiries regarding this case should be directed to the Purdue University News Service at (765) 494-2096.

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