Found Safe IL - Diwen Fan, 20, University of Chicago student, left dorm on bike, Chicago, 5 May 2022 *reward*

[Pursula]

Diwen Fan

Family offering $10k for information on missing University of Chicago student

The family of a missing University of Chicago student is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to his location.

Diwen Fan, 20, left his university dorm room on May 5 and has not been heard from since, according to the family’s lawyer, Yilun Hu, of Haung & Hu PC law firm. Fan’s family lives in Beijing but brought in the firm to help find their son.

Hu said there was an indication Fan had an “unsatisfactory academic record,” and his parents released the following statement telling the college sophomore not to be frustrated by things out of his control.

“Your parents know that you had tried your best in school and they really appreciate all the hard work you putted in for yourself and for your family,” the statement read. “However, life is more than just being enrolled in a fine institution or accomplishing good grade; perseverance, resilience, and determination are the qualities we cherish. There is not a single task in your life that cannot be resolved, but the key is to always have an optimistic mentality.”

Fan was wearing a pair of black frame glasses and carrying a black backpack with an “Edison” label on the back when he last left his dorm.

The family found a ticket under Fan’s name from Chicago to San Antonio, but it is unclear if he used it, Hu said.

Hu said Fan’s disappearance has marked a difficult time for both his family and the entire Chinese American community in Chicago.

“Diwen, we are here for you. We can talk you through whatever help you need, pass a message for you, and help you stay safe. Please reach out when you are ready,” Hu wrote.

The University of Chicago is working with police and Fan’s family to help in the investigation.

“Our thoughts are with Diwen and his family and we hope for his safe return,” spokesman Gerald McSwiggan wrote in a statement.

The family has offered a $10,000 reward for anyone with information leading to Fan. They have asked anyone with tips, big or small, to 312-782-2090 or email [email protected].

 

[Unsolved]

The family statement is heartbreaking. I hate that he's already been missing over a month. I can imagine the pressure if I was only 20 years old, in a new school, in a new country.

I can only hope his friends can offer some clues to help LE, like why San Antonio?

There are also some interesting tidbits in this article:

The Disappearance of Diwen Fan - Disappeared

20 year old Diwen Fan was last seen on May 5, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. He disappeared after leaving his University of Chicago dorm

disappearedblog.com

 

[annpats]

His parents are saying that it's OK if he doesn't get a good result at the college, but I wonder if they said that at the beginning, when he left China.
Great expectations and a huge pressure would have been on him to do well, not to mention the massive financial expense of tuition fees and living costs.
I hope the pressure didn't get too much, or he felt depressed and isolated being away from home.

I'm surprised they found a bus ticket to San Antonio, I presumed it would be a plane ticket given the distance, but the fact his bank cards haven't been used since he went missing, which is now over a month, does not sound good.

MOO.

 

[Pursula]

Hu said Fan may have bought a Greyhound bus ticket, but he says there’s no proof he ever left Chicago.

Family offers reward to help find missing UChicago student

The family of a missing University of Chicago sophomore is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his safe return, as the discovery of a note leads to greater concern.

www.audacy.com

Seems it was a Greyhound bus ticket purchased under his name, but no proof he ever left Chicago.

 

[GMS]

There are also some interesting tidbits in this article:

The Disappearance of Diwen Fan - Disappeared

20 year old Diwen Fan was last seen on May 5, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. He disappeared after leaving his University of Chicago dorm

disappearedblog.com

Interesting about the bus ticket. I would think Greyhound could verify if the ticket was used. The note there's no proof he left Chicago, does that imply someone else may have used the ticket and got off in Dallas?

"His family found a Greyhound bus ticket under Diwen’s name from Chicago to San Antonio, but it’s unclear if he used it. It does not appear he completed the last part of the trip from Dallas, and there’s no proof he ever left Chicago."

 

[Pursula]

How do I pick up tickets at the station?​

You have two choices: if you go to a self-serve kiosk you just need the confirmation number. If you go to the ticket counter, you'll need your confirmation number and personal ID.

If someone else bought your ticket, you'll need to show your ID and know the password that was created when the ticket was bought.

I've printed out my ticket but left it at home. What do I do?​

If you purchased the ticket under your name you can go directly to the bus and board by showing your photo ID or click "Print Ticket" from your ticket confirmation page and show that to the Greyhound driver. If you are traveling on another carrier, you must have a printed ticket.
If a ticket was purchased for you, go to the ticket counter to speak with an assistant, show your ID or give the password the purchaser has chosen, and provide the confirmation number in order for the ticket to be re-printed.

Assuming he didn't buy an e-ticket it seems these are the other two ways to purchase and pick up your ticket (taken from the Greyhound website). Would still think it would be able to be traced but maybe takes longer, or is dependent on how long they keep records for.

And not sure why one article states they're not sure whether he made the last leg of the trip from Dallas to San Antonio, and the others state they're not sure whether he left Chicago at all.

Also curious if he had a phone, none of the articles I've come across mention one.

 

[annpats]

Also curious if he had a phone, none of the articles I've come across mention one.

I'd be surprised if he DIDN'T have a phone, especially a young guy from China. When I was there 4 years ago, even the old ladies in their 70s had them.

If it wasn't left in his dorm room, maybe he had it with him?

Also, that article mentions he left a note in his dorm room, but no indication of what it said. They fear for his mental health, so it MAY have mentioned self-harm.

I'd like to see more about his phone and see where the last ping was from.

MOO.

 

[borndem]

Welcome to Websleuths,
Pursula !!

 

[iulia]

His NamUs page has been removed.

 

[NeverPersonal]

His NamUs page has been removed.

hoping there is good news?

 

[iulia]

hoping there is good news?

I've been looking for updates but I can't find anything new. With his NamUs removed, there is a very high chance that there has been a resolution in his case. Hoping he was found safe, but sometimes there is simply no update provided..

 

[Pursula]

Facebook post from the University of Chicago Police Department says he's been located safe and reunited with his family.

"Thanks to our community and media partners, Diwan Fan is no longer a Missing Person. He has been safely located and reunited with family."

Log in or sign up to view

See posts, photos and more on Facebook.

www.facebook.com

 

[Unsolved]

This Chinese news site has more info (via google translate to English, so some words might read a little off)

"Diwen Fan, a 20-year-old Chinese student from the University of Chicago who has been missing for nearly three months, has been found. According to the Chicago Shimizu Zhengdong Law Firm confirmed on the 27th, Fan Diwen was in Los Angeles and lost contact with his family before because of documents, mobile phones, etc. All wallets have been stolen, and now I have contacted my family, and I am planning to return to China during the summer vacation.

Hu Yilun, a lawyer from Qingshui Zhengdong Law Firm, said that Fan Diwen's father announced the good news in the parent group of the University of Chicago. After verification, Fan Diwen has indeed contacted his family. The Fan family is also very grateful for everyone's concern and support. According to Fan's father , Fan Diwen is currently working as a volunteer at an agency in Los Angeles.

Fan Diwen lost contact with his family after leaving the University of Chicago campus on May 5. The parents later entrusted the Chicago Clearwater Zhengdong Law Firm to assist in finding their son and his family and provided Fan Diwen's photo and a description of his clothes when he disappeared.

The parents of the Fan family, who had not been able to find their child for a period of time, were very anxious, and once issued an open letter to their son, expressing that they knew that he had made great hardships and efforts, but who can do everything well? Being frustrated for reasons beyond one's control is not a big deal at all. Strength, resilience and perseverance are the real wealth in life.

The open letter also mentioned that it is not so important to remember the famous schools that my father often talked about, not to mention that all problems can be solved at present.

Later, the Fan family also offered a reward of 10,000 yuan as a bonus for those who found clues to their son. As for how to find Fan Diwen? Hu Yilun said that he has not yet obtained the authorization of the parents to disclose it, but the safety and health of the child is the best result".

失蹤近3個月 芝大中國留學生找到了 人在洛杉磯 | 世界新聞網

失蹤將近3個月的芝加哥大學的20歲中國留學生范迪文(Diwen Fan)找到了，根據芝加哥清水正東律師事務所27日證實，...

www.worldjournal.com

 

[Pursula]

Missing University of Chicago student safely reunited with family, two months after they posted $10,000 reward to find him

Diwen Fan, 20, was last seen leaving his university dorm room on May 5. His family offered the reward a month later.

chicago.suntimes.com

A University of Chicago student reported missing has been safely reunited with family, two months after they had offered a $10,000 reward to find him, school officials announced last week.

Diwen Fan, 20, was last seen leaving his university dorm room on May 5, according to the family’s lawyer, Yilun Hu. The family posted the reward in June.

In an email to the school community on Friday, Dean of Students John Ellison announced Fan has been reunited with his family.

“He and his family visited campus today to show their gratitude to the entire university community,” Ellison wrote. “The university will continue to support Diwen and his family moving forward.”

Officials have not provided any details on Fan’s disappearance.

The family’s lawyer said there was an indication Fan had an “unsatisfactory academic record,” and his parents released a statement telling the college sophomore not to be frustrated by things out of his control.