The desperate family of a New York student who is missing in France has pleaded for help finding him as the FBI joins the search effort.
Kenneth DeLand, 22, was supposed to fly home for the holidays this week but his family hasn't heard from him for more than two weeks.
In a heartbreaking interview to beg for help finding their son, Ken's parents describe the loss of contact as out of character and urge him: 'Just pick up the phone.'
Ken had been staying with a host family while studying at the University of Grenoble Alpes. His family's last contact was a WhatsApp message on November 27 telling them he was taking a train to Valence in southeastern France.





Surveillance footage shows the college student (pictured entering the store in a red jacket) in his last known appearance. DeLand's family has launched a website to track him down

His phone was believed to have 'pinged' last on November 30.
On December 3, he was spotted on surveillance cameras at a sporting goods store in Alpine resort Montelimar. Bank records show he made a purchase of $8.40 at 9am.
That is the final known sighting of Ken. His family was informed their son was missing by a college liaison worker who contacted them after he failed to report to class and didn't return to his host family.





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Ken's mom, Carol Laws, said the college filed a missing persons report because they hadn't seen him for 24 hours.
'I'm not there I'm here, thousands of miles away,' Laws said.
His father, evdeN EvE NAkLiYat Kenneth DeLand Sr, said: 'It's not characteristic of Kenny to not reach out to us and let us know what's going on.' 





Ken's father, pictured left, said: 'It's not characteristic of Kenny to not reach out to us and let us know what's going on.'






Ken Sr says the family are 'extremely concerned' for the wellbeing of their son 






The senior EVDen EVE nakLiyAT at St John Fisher University in Rochester, New York has spent the past few months studying at the University of Grenoble Alpes





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His family's last contact was a WhatsApp message on November 27 telling them he was taking a train to Valence in southeastern France

'At the very least, you have to keep your voice in front of these investigators if not every day, at least every week.'
The senior at St John Fisher University in Rochester, New York has spent the past few months studying at the University of Grenoble Alpes.
The family have now launched a website to raise awareness about his missing status.
They wrote: 'We are extremely worried and want him to return home safe.
'We fear the worst and want him to be located.'
He has been listed on the French missing persons list.
The student was last seen wearing a red jacket, scarf, evdeN Eve NakliyAt a gray beanie, blue pants, a black backpack and sneakers.
He is about six feet tall and 190 pounds.
Study abroad organizers the American Institute for Foreign Study said that it 'joins others concerned for his safety and we are working with local law enforcement who have begun a search.
'We have been in contact with Kenneth's family and evdEN evE NAkLiYAt university and we are hoping for his swift and safe return.'







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[url=]Find Ken DeLand[/url]