UMKC student missing since Nov. 21
Published Dec. 1, 2006
UM-Kansas City student Jesse Ross went missing early Nov. 21 on a trip to Chicago after leaving a hotel around 4 a.m. At press time, there was still no sign of Ross.
Ross was in Chicago for the American Model United Nations International Conference and left his hotel for a meeting with other students. Hotel video surveillance shows him leaving from his hotel around 2 a.m. He was last seen leaving another hotel at approximately 4 a.m. UMKC Public Relations Director John Allen said it is university policy not to comment on an ongoing investigation so that the process remains uncompromised.
UMKC Chancellor Guy H. Bailey released a statement Saturday on Ross' disappearance.
"On behalf of the University of Missouri-Kansas City and our community, our thoughts are with Jesse, his family and his friends," Bailey said in the release. "When something like this happens to one of our own, it affects all of us; and we share in the prayers of many that this search will end soon with Jesse's safe return."
Chicago police Sgt. Tony Rizzo said the investigation has found no new leads since Ross' disappearance last Tuesday.
"We're getting great cooperation from the university, but we haven't come up with anything new since day one," Rizzo said.
The Chicago Police Department has searched the city using dogs. It has also searched the Chicago River, Rizzo said. Records show that Ross has not used his cell phone or credit cards, so the police are interviewing people, he said. With no new leads, the search could close within a week.
"It's a day-to-day thing," Rizzo said. "But we will continue searching through at least next week."
This is the first time a student has gone missing from UMKC, so the university has no set response policy, Allen said.
MU spokesman Christian Basi said that there is also no set policy for MU students who disappear from student trips, and that situations would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
UMKC has been offering counseling for students upset by Ross' disappearance and sent an e-mail to students, faculty and staff encouraging them to seek counseling if necessary. The Office of Student Affairs has been contacting student groups with which Ross is affiliated to offer support and counseling services. The office also has been in contact with the UMKC students who were with Ross in Chicago, offering support and facilitation of any discussion about their feelings regarding the disappearance, Allen said.
Rizzo said it is not unusual to find a missing person after a week or two, but that if he has a lot of cash, then there is no trail. People have turned up after missing for several months before, he said, but if they do not want to be found, then they cannot be found.
"Maybe he just needed to get away and deal with some issues," Rizzo said. "That's not too uncommon when a young kid like this disappears."