Tyler Thomas Missing: FBI Joins Search for Nebraska College Student
PERU, Neb. (CBS/KMTV/AP) The mission to find a missing Nebraska college student intensified as the FBI joined the search for the 19-year-old student who was last seen Friday leaving an off-campus party.
Law enforcement continues to search for Peru State freshman Tyler Thomas who was last seen around 1:30 a.m. Friday leaving the campus-dubbed "baseball house" less than a mile from her dormitory, reports CBS affiliate KMTV.
Peru State President Dan Hanson says the FBI joined the case after the Nebraska Highway Patrol registered Thomas' disappearance with the National Center for Exploited and Missing Children, reports KOLN/KGIN.
Campus security cameras caught the teen crossing campus and then again one block from her destination; however, it does not appear she ever made it to her dormitory which should have been visible from where she stood, reports The Omaha World-Herald.
One of Thomas' friends says she received an odd text message from Thomas right around the time she disappeared claiming she did not know where she was.
Shortly after receiving the text message, her friends scoured the campus, but to no avail. They reported her missing at 3 a.m., says The Omaha World-Herald.
Although Nemaha County Sheriff Brent Lottman would not confirm or deny the cell phone activity, he said authorities have followed up on all cell phone records.
"We have tried everything available. We're trying everything available to find her, we're not...we're not cutting corners," Lottman said.
Foul play has not been ruled out as a factor in Thomas' disappearance.
Thomas' parents told KMTV their daughter had no reason to take off, nor would she go this long without contacting her family. They are pleading with the public to help bring Tyler home.
Tyler Thomas, a Bellevue resident, is approximately 5-feet-5-inches tall, 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a teal shirt with green sweat pants, a scarf and ear muffs, reports The Lincoln Journal Star.
Anyone with information pertaining to Tyler Thomas' whereabouts is asked to call the Nemaha County Sheriff's Office a 402-274-3139.