JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The search for a UNF student continues more than two days after he was reported missing.
Authorities are looking for George Louissaint, Jr. 20, who was last seen at The Flats Apartments on campus.
Louissaint’s family is pleading for him to return home safely.
UNF police said Louissaint was at a party around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, he left upset and started to walk home after making a statement that raised concerns about his personal safety, but not at the hands of anyone else.
UNF police were called to a party, which they broke up. The missing student was not involved in an altercation, police said.
Friends told police that Louissaint Jr. ran into the woods and hasn't been seen since.
Family has been passing out fliers and won’t stop until he’s found.
"It's getting scary because it's over 48 hours, and right now all I can do is sit and wait and pray,” said his father, George Louissaint, Sr.
Tesha Fleming is the girlfriend Louissaint. She along with his family are worried and don’t know where he could be.
"We haven't heard anything. We're just trying to keep hope," Fleming said.
On Wednesday, law enforcement agencies searching wooded areas off Central Parkway and in different lakes off Kernan Boulevard.
"We've searched over 14 square miles, we'll have searched by the end of today 27 bodies of water," said Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Director Michelle Cook.
Officers also handed out 2,000 fliers just with Louissaint's picture on it, and Fleming handed out fliers as well.
"We're going out and handing out fliers to the places where we just didn't get to and try to hand them out to as many people as possible to try to get the word out," Fleming said.
But starting Wednesday and going into Thursday, officers say they’ll be scaling back their efforts.
"Unfortunately, we're at a point in this investigation where what you've been seeing, the visual part, will start standing down," said UNF Police Chief Frank Mackesy.
Mackesy said that doesn’t mean they’re stopping their investigation; they're still working leads.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact UPD at 904-620-2800 or the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500.
Authorities have used multiple resources, including a helicopter, K-9s, dive teams and social media.
UNF President John A. Delaney sent a statement:
"The UNF community is hopeful that the missing UNF student will be found soon. George Louissaint Jr. is on the minds of everyone here, from students to faculty and staff. We appreciate everyone who is sharing his photo on social media in the hopes that someone will recognize him and share important information with police.
"I’d like to thank the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office for working with the University Police Department on this intensive search. Everyone just wants to bring George home safe. Please keep this young man in your thoughts and prayers.”
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Police activity for missing UNF student George Louissaint Jr. has moved to areas on the core of campus. Increased police...
Posted by University of North Florida on Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Cox Media Group
