U.S. student Austin Bice's body found in Madrid

MADRID - The body of a U.S. exchange student from California was pulled out of a Madrid river on Tuesday, 10 days after he went missing following a night on the town, a police official said.

The cause of death was not known but there were no immediate signs of foul play in the death of 22-year-old San Diego State University business student Austin Bice, the National Police official said.

PICTURES: Austin Bice

An autopsy will be carried out Tuesday or Wednesday. It is not clear when the results will be released but the information will be given to Bice's family and to a Spanish investigating magistrate, the Madrid government said.

Bice's body was found in the Manzanares River, a shallow, slow-moving waterway that runs through western Madrid, in a spot not far from the nightclub where he was last seen in the early hours of Feb. 26, said the police official.

She spoke on condition of anonymity in line with department rules.

Bice, from Carlsbad, California, was studying international business at Carlos III University and had been in Spain since January. Roommates had reported him missing after he failed to return home following the night out. His father Larry Bice had traveled to Madrid to help in the search.

The body was found after a roughly 500-meter (yard) section of the river, which contains several locks, was drained as part of the search, police said.

After Bice went missing, friends put up posters of him around the city. On Monday night, students in San Diego held a candlelight vigil for him.

Bice's father has said his son was physically fit, tall — six-foot-four — and had recently climbed Mt. Whitney in California with him.

Maria Garcia, a friend of Bice's, told The Associated Press over the weekend that Bice and others had been drinking at an apartment before going out to the club. A doorman suggested Bice rest a while before going in because he looked unwell. A friend then stayed outside with him until Bice said he was going to walk home.

On Tuesday, Garcia said she had no idea how Bice had gone missing.

Bice's father did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment.

Carlos Lopez-Terradas, who runs the exchange program at Carlos III University, described Bice as a popular young man with lots of friends. The university has sent an e-mail to all students and staff informing them of Bice's death, and flags there were flying at half-staff Tuesday in his honor. The university has also contacted Bice's family about holding a memorial ceremony for him in Spain.

"We are crushed. We still cannot believe it," Lopez-Terradas said.

In postings on his blog, Bice wrote about his experience in Spain — touching on themes ranging from Spanish food, a trip to Valencia, his initial difficulty with Spanish, heavy homework assignments and Madrid's vibrant nightlife.

Bice was amazed at the party scene, with both Spanish and foreign students often staying out until dawn, but said in a Feb. 9 post that he wasn't imbibing as much as others.

"Before I came to Spain, I was told by all of my advisers that I should try to keep calm at parties and not try to be the typical loud and drunk American," Bice wrote. "I have done exactly that, staying back and watching hilarious drunken events occur from a relatively sober mind. The Spaniards at the party were not following along with this ideology."

On his last post on Feb. 25, he said he was going out: "Hopefully it will not disappoint (I assume it will not). It's in Madrid and it should be a fun night."

He added: "Now, I truly must be going, my Spanish roommates are expecting me to prepare some authentic American food ... Hope they like Hamburgers!"

[allokie]

Another problem with exchange school programs - maybe news thought parents need another wake up call. Foreign countries do not offer same protection that we receive in USA - children(anyone under 30)need to be reminded, over and over again.
My deepest condolences to this young man's family. Maybe this son can save another young life.

[sdcowgirl]

To the family of this young man, my deepest sympathy.

[John_Merritt]

Little shock little surprise, Spain is one of the most corrupt modern societies on the face of the planet. My sympathies to the Bice family and friends.

[amadeo123]

as opposed to your country, the land of the righteous and perfect. Number one producers of pornography in the world, number one in the world in drug addicts (you must be a very happy society that's why you have to be high all day). Number one in the world in gun related crimes, number one in starting wars under false pretenses.

[greco99-2009]

A very sad case to be sure.

But, I am wondering why this is the top news item in a national news site.

Are his parents super wealthy?

[greco99-2009]

We estimate that over 1,400 students aged 18-24 and enrolled in 2- and 4-year colleges died in 1998 from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. According to surveys conducted in 1999, in the preceding year, over 2 million of the 8 million college students in the United States drove under the influence of alcohol and over 3 million rode with a drinking driver. Over 500,000 full-time 4-year college students were unintentionally injured under the influence of alcohol and over 600,000 were hit or assaulted by another student who had been drinking.

From: http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/media/Journal/136-Hingson.sep.pdf

I am still not sure what make this case so special. Parents have friends at CBS? Wealthy?

Again, this is a personal tragedy to be sure. But, why top page coverage here.

[kimmyj43]

oh no. I was sure hoping he would be found safe somewhere. ugh.

[avigil2]

You people making these horrible, in compassionate comments should be ashamed of yourselves. A young life was taken and your ugliness shows through in your postings. Yuck!

[larrydavidsandwich]

Sanctimonious, much?

[meincalifornia]

by MarineVet64 March 8, 2011 6:48 AM EST
Got blind drunk, fell in the river and drowned.
Case closed.
God, I'm good.

HEY YOU FORGOT TO DO THE SAME. READY SET GO. HOORAY.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
mon dieu c'est terrible mourir si jeune, je devine la douleur de ses parents et amis,
la consommation d'alcool et stup?fiants, g?che la vie des jeunes, les m?ne jusqu'? la mort,
mes condol?ances ? sa famille, reposes en paix "Austin"
.........
my god this is terrible to die so young, I guess the pain of his parents and friends,
alcohol and drugs, ruins the lives of youth, leading to death,
my condolences to his family, rest in peace "Austin"
"au revoir"

[Esquirew]

sad comments ... burying a child is one of the most tragic duties for a parent. pray for their comfort.

it could just be that this death was the result of this young man exercising his "freedom of choice". and a poor choice it appears ...

it does confirm that man is not immortal ... at any age.

would this tragedy get this much attention were he not an American in a foreign country? and because our lives were forever changed on 9/11?

[Esquirew]

sad comments ... burying a child is one of the most tragic duties for a parent. pray for their comfort.

it could just be that this death was the result of this young man exercising his "freedom of choice". and a poor choice it appears ...

it does confirm that man is not immortal ... at any age.

would this tragedy get this much attention were he not an American in a foreign country? and because our lives were forever changed on 9/11?

[riley6106]

@akc87031 If you actually read the article, you'll see it states "The body was found after a roughly 500-meter (yard) section of the river, which contains several locks, was drained as part of the search, police said." In other words, he did not fall 15 feet into a shallow river bed. If he fell at all, it was into a river that was at least 15 feet deep (by your calculations). I'm glad you and God are on the case though.

[riley6106]

Sorry @Esquirew... commented on the wrong post.