Found Safe UT - Kai Zhuang, 17, international student, 28 December 2023 *ransom demand*

[cocomod]

Foreign exchange student missing from Riverdale

Riverdale police are seeking help find a missing foreign exchange student they believe taken forcefully from home.

kslnewsradio.com

RIVERDALE, Utah — Riverdale police released a missing endangered advisory for a foreign exchange student in Utah who they believe may have forcibly been taken from his home.

The advisory was released early Friday morning for Kai Zhuang. He is described as a 17-year-old Asian male. Zhuang is 5’10” tall and weighs 170 pounds with black hair and black eyes.

 

[cocomod]

 

[cocomod]

Police believe missing foreign exchange student in Utah was taken by force, held against will

A Utah Endangered Missing Person Advisory was issued in Riverdale Friday morning for a teenage boy believed to have been taken from his home.Officials of the Ut

wpde.com

Police believe missing foreign exchange student in Utah was taken by force, held against will​

<modsnip - snipped for 10% copyright rule>

 

[LaylaD]

New updates
“According to Riverdale Police Chief Casey Warren, authorities received a report of Zhuan’s kidnapping at 8:30 p.m. Thursday from the high school he attended. Warren said Zhuan’s parents in China told the school they received a photo of their son that made it appear he was kidnapped and the kidnappers were asking for a ransom.”

Police searching for foreign exchange student in Utah who may have been forcefully taken

Police have issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for Kai Zhuang, 17, who may have been forcefully taken from his home and is being held against his will.

ksltv.com

 

[wnk]

Police said the high school Kai is attending contacted officers after Kai's parents in China notified the school they had received a "photograph of their child that would indicate he was abducted and they requested a ransom." Further details were not given.

Officers responded to the residence of the host family in Riverdale, who were unaware Kai was missing. The host family said they had seen Kai the night before and had heard him in the early hours of Friday, police said.

Police said no evidence suggests he was forcibly taken from the home. Riverdale police say ransom note was received for missing foreign exchange student

 

[ch_13]

I'm curious if this ransom note was written in English or Chinese.

 

[dulcinea]

Police searching for foreign exchange student in Utah who may have been forcefully taken

Police have issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for Kai Zhuang, 17, who may have been forcefully taken from his home and is being held against his will.

ksltv.com

Sorry, all. Some of the details have me a bit confused. Trying to make sense of this. Let me know where I'm misunderstanding.

According to Riverdale Police Chief Casey Warren, authorities received a report of Zhuan’s kidnapping at 8:30 p.m. Thursday from the high school he attended. (The school reported him missing? Aren't they on break? 8:30 PM?)

Warren said Zhuan’s parents in China told the school they received a photo of their son that made it appear he was kidnapped and the kidnappers were asking for a ransom. (Did the parents call the school and NOT the host family? The school then reported him missing?)

Police checked the home where the Zhuang was staying. The host family told police they did not notice him missing and had last seen him the night before and possibly heard him in the morning. (Where did they think he was? Was it normal for him to be gone like this?)

Police said Kai was last seen at approximately 3:30 a.m. Thursday. They did not know what clothing he was wearing but said he has been known to wear a green jacket. (He was reported missing at 8:30 PM, last see the same day at 3:30 AM? By whom? Where? Again, where did his host family think he was?)

Warren said there is no evidence that Zhuan was forcibly taken from his host family’s home. (Then why does the headline say

Police searching for foreign exchange student in Utah who may have been forcefully taken?​

 

[iusedtofloat]

I am also confused and hope to god he's okay.

Riverdale police ask public for help locating endangered missing foreign exchange student

Riverdale Police issued a missing endangered advisory for a foreign exchange student in Utah after his parents received a photo indicating he was abducted and held for ransom Friday afternoon.

www.fox13now.com

He was last seen Thursday at about 3:30 a.m.

At this point, police do not believe he was forced to be taken from the home in Riverdale. Though he is still considered to be endangered at this time.

Riverdale police say they are working with the FBI, the US Embassy in China and China officials to locate the missing juvenile.

No suspect has been identified at this time.

 

[Knox]

What the heck is going on here?

 

[Limecat]

What the heck is going on here?

I got nothin‘ Knox

 

[Unalienable Rights]

Retired officer breaks down complexities in investigating teen's disappearance from Riverdale

A Riverdale foreign exchanged student has been missing since early Thursday morning.A Utah Endangered Missing Person Advisory was issued on Friday morning for 1

kutv.com

*****
Because Zhuang is a foreign exchange student and underage, Retired Deputy Police Chief Bertram said the FBI, the state, and local authorities will be using national resources to find him.

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[Lisbeth_S]

Retired officer breaks down complexities in investigating teen's disappearance from Riverdale

A Riverdale foreign exchanged student has been missing since early Thursday morning.A Utah Endangered Missing Person Advisory was issued on Friday morning for 1

kutv.com

Wow, this sounds like a recipe for a diplomatic disaster.

 

[dulcinea]

This whole thing sounds like a movie plot. Per post #11, the first possibility mentioned is a hoax. Are they leaning that way? But then option 2 makes it sound like (if you read more of the article) this kind of thing is happening and they have been warning people about it.

 

[Herat]

My first thought is hoax.

Who best to know who his parents are, how to contact them, and negotiate currency transfer?

Someone in the UT family or him?

 

[AnyNameIWish]

Who is the host family? 330am? Has he been in Utah since 9th grade, or did he just arrive this fall?

If he has been a student in the USA since freshman year, he's got to have a friend group that LE can tap into.. social media? How fluent was he in English?

In sf we have not a small number of Chinese students who attend four years of high school and live with their 'aunt', not sure if that's what is happening here or this was just for this year/semester.

I am hopeful that this is just a kid gone astray on purpose and wants to rebel a little...

 

[ellendfw]

Police searching for foreign exchange student in Utah who may have been forcefully taken

Police have issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for Kai Zhuang, 17, who may have been forcefully taken from his home and is being held against his will.

ksltv.com

Sorry, all. Some of the details have me a bit confused. Trying to make sense of this. Let me know where I'm misunderstanding.

According to Riverdale Police Chief Casey Warren, authorities received a report of Zhuan’s kidnapping at 8:30 p.m. Thursday from the high school he attended. (The school reported him missing? Aren't they on break? 8:30 PM?)

Warren said Zhuan’s parents in China told the school they received a photo of their son that made it appear he was kidnapped and the kidnappers were asking for a ransom. (Did the parents call the school and NOT the host family? The school then reported him missing?)

Police checked the home where the Zhuang was staying. The host family told police they did not notice him missing and had last seen him the night before and possibly heard him in the morning. (Where did they think he was? Was it normal for him to be gone like this?)

Police said Kai was last seen at approximately 3:30 a.m. Thursday. They did not know what clothing he was wearing but said he has been known to wear a green jacket. (He was reported missing at 8:30 PM, last see the same day at 3:30 AM? By whom? Where? Again, where did his host family think he was?)

Warren said there is no evidence that Zhuan was forcibly taken from his host family’s home. (Then why does the headline say

Police searching for foreign exchange student in Utah who may have been forcefully taken?​

It's all very confusing. I'm following this topic in hopes things will become clearer and that he is safe.

 

[Lusitana]

The host family's stance is weird.

 

[dulcinea]

The host family's stance is weird.

It feels to me like there is more to the story that is not being released and so at face value it doesn't feel right, but I think I agree with what you're saying without saying it. ;-)

 

[dotr]

Maybe something like this scam is going on?
2017

Missing students threatened, as suspects demand ransom from parents in China

Toronto police say they believe two Chinese students they first thought were missing persons are actually victims of a scam targeting their parents back in China.

www.cp24.com

''Toronto police say they believe two Chinese students they first thought were missing persons are actually victims of a scam targeting their parents back in China.

Since Wednesday, police were made aware that two Chinese students studying in Toronto, Juanwen Zhang, 20, and Ke “Jaden” Xu, were reported missing to authorities.

After looking into the matter, investigators say they believe suspects contacted both students and told them to go into hiding and stay off their phones and social media, saying their families back in China would be in danger if they did not comply.''

Vancouver police renew ‘virtual kidnapping’ warning after scam targets 3rd student | Globalnews.ca

The scam usually targets young Chinese women who are in Canada to study.

globalnews.ca

Found Safe - Canada - 3 Chinese students, ages 16-20, missing in extortion scam, Toronto, Nov 2017

http://www.cp24.com/news/scammers-forced-students-into-hiding-demanded-ransom-from-parents-in-china-1.3672292 Published Friday, November 10, 2017 11:57AM EST Toronto police say...

www.websleuths.com

 

[Andieinsyd]

Maybe something like this scam is going on?
2017

Missing students threatened, as suspects demand ransom from parents in China

Toronto police say they believe two Chinese students they first thought were missing persons are actually victims of a scam targeting their parents back in China.

www.cp24.com

''Toronto police say they believe two Chinese students they first thought were missing persons are actually victims of a scam targeting their parents back in China.

Since Wednesday, police were made aware that two Chinese students studying in Toronto, Juanwen Zhang, 20, and Ke “Jaden” Xu, were reported missing to authorities.

After looking into the matter, investigators say they believe suspects contacted both students and told them to go into hiding and stay off their phones and social media, saying their families back in China would be in danger if they did not comply.''

Vancouver police renew ‘virtual kidnapping’ warning after scam targets 3rd student | Globalnews.ca

The scam usually targets young Chinese women who are in Canada to study.

globalnews.ca

Found Safe - Canada - 3 Chinese students, ages 16-20, missing in extortion scam, Toronto, Nov 2017

http://www.cp24.com/news/scammers-forced-students-into-hiding-demanded-ransom-from-parents-in-china-1.3672292 Published Friday, November 10, 2017 11:57AM EST Toronto police say...

www.websleuths.com

I think you are right! Looks like similar have been going on for years.
ETA I hope so as this would mean safe.

DOTR worth calling in I think.