Grad student shows up in Springfield
Robert Slaughter was located through phone records and contacted Springfield Police.
Published Sept. 15, 2006
The MU student reported missing during the summer was located Sept. 13 in Springfield, Mo.
Robert Lee Slaughter, who was reported missing by the Department of Residential Life on Aug. 11, was staying with a friend.
"Robert Slaughter came to headquarters and stated that he had been reported missing by the MU Police Department," Springfield police spokesman Grant Story said. He said Slaughter appeared to be in good health when he visited the Springfield Police Department.
Slaughter left the Columbia area without notice, and he said he was staying with friends until he could permanently relocate to Springfield, Story said.
Slaughter told Springfield police that his cell phone had been stolen and that he had no access to e-mail since leaving Columbia, which led to the report that Slaughter was missing, Story said.
After Residential Life reported Slaughter missing to MU police, Capt. Brian Weimer said his department "started looking at different cell phone logs."
Weimer said MU police then spoke to an individual who said Slaughter was with him at the time of the call. After the call, Slaughter went to the Springfield Police Department to verify his identity.
At time of publication, it was unclear if there had been any further contact between either of the departments and Slaughter.
"As an adult reported missing who appears to be of sound mind, our mission was to identify him," Story said.
After ensuring Slaughter was in no danger, the Springfield Police Department's involvement is over, Story said.
Slaughter told Springfield police that he plans to contact family members to let them know that he is safe.
Director of Residential Life Frankie Minor heard of Slaughter's location via e-mail today, but the department had no contact with Slaughter at the time of publication.
"I anticipate we will have contact with him at some point because we have some of his belongings," Minor said. "Other than that, we're glad he's found and that he's doing just fine."