Police search for former MU student

Posted to Police Beat by Jimmy Hibsch at 1:47 p.m., Dec. 22, 2010

Police are continuing their search for former MU student Nicholas Coppola, who has been missing since Dec. 12. Coppola, who resides in Columbia, was most recently enrolled at MU during the spring 2010 semester studying economics.

Foristell Police Department Chief Douglas Johnson said his department found Coppola’s 1998 Subaru Legacy abandoned Dec. 12 along I-70 at the 203-mile marker, near Foristell. Upon searching the car, police found Coppola’s wallet and cell phone still inside, which Johnson said they found odd, considering the weather. Additionally, the gas tank was not empty.

The car was towed the following day, upon which a letter was faxed to Coppola at his parent’s address in Weldon Spring after police were unable to contact anyone by phone.

Coppola’s parents called the police Monday, telling them they had not seen or heard from their son since his mother visited him in Columbia on Dec. 10. That day he told them he would be home for the holidays.

Coppola was arrested at Midwest Petroleum in Wright City in the afternoon of Dec. 12 for trespassing. Johnson said he believes Coppola was trying to sneak into a home so he could warm up. He was taken to Warren County Jail for processing and was released at about 5:40 p.m. that evening with a summons charge. That was the last time he has been seen.

“At the time of release, he had no ID, no cell phone and no source of paying for food, shelter or anything like that,” Johnson said. “Since then, nobody has seen him or been able to indicate a direction of travel.”

Because of this, Johnson said he believes Coppola is not far from the jail.

“We believe, based on the information we have at this point, that there’s a good possibility he’s still in the Warrenton, Missouri area,” Johnson said.

Coppola’s aunt Toni Grovier said the family is following every lead they receive. She encourages anyone to check any abandoned buildings or sheds for her nephew, who, she said, might be going by the name Michael or Mike.

“Nick has no money and probably is very hungry and confused,” Grovier said.

Graduate student Cody Smith, an acquaintance of Coppola, said the two spent a lot of time together at school-related events such as the German Club and Stammtisch, both German-culture groups on campus. He said he hasn’t heard from Coppola since the beginning of the school year, which he said is odd because Coppola had previously been very active in these events.

“Nick is a free spirit," Smith said. "He is a smart kid with his own ideas. By no means is Nick a conformist. He is a thinker and isn’t scared to try different things or hold different views, even when others are going to think differently about him and these views.”

The family strongly encourages anyone with any information to call Foristell police at (636) 463-2123, ext. 22, or (636) 639-2150 and ask for the on-duty officer.

“He is truly a good guy, one that I always looked forward to seeing,” Smith said. “He definitely made the mood better when he was around. I hope he is alright.”