Body of Missing Iowa State University Student Jonathan Francis Lucina Found Near Campus

DES MOINES, Iowa (CBS/AP) - After months of searching, the hunt for Iowa State University senior John Francis Lucina is over. The university issued a news release Friday confirming that a body found one mile south of the campus is Lucina.

The 22-year-old was missing since January.

Lucina's body was discovered Wednesday evening in an old dairy building by a university police officer who was performing a routine scan of the area, said University Police Chief Jerry Stewart.

Stewart claimed that a search had been conducted in that area early in February, but had been hampered by waist-deep snow. However, ISU Police would not confirm whether or not they checked inside the building, reports CBS affiliate KGAN.

An autopsy was performed on Thursday. No further details regarding the cause of death have been released, but Stewart and the ISU police have said from the very beginning that the possibility of foul play has not been ruled out, according to KGAN.

Lucina was last seen January 22 leaving a gathering of friends. Unfortunately, no one noticed Lucina's disappearance until January 30 when the ISU senior was reported missing by his father.

Once the campus had been alerted, searches were conducted on foot, horseback, and by aircraft. Dive crews also searched a campus lake.

Stewart said the investigation is continuing, but he acknowledged some questions, such as how Lucina ended up at the old, unused dairy farm, may never be answered.

University President Gregory Geoffroy expressed his condolences to Lucina's family.

"We all held out hope that Jonathan would be found alive and well, but while that hope no longer exists, Jonathan's family and friends can now begin to bring closure to this terrible ordeal," Geoffroy said in a written statement.