VCU foreign exchange student Jonathan S. Dorey missing- last seen 3/02/10

[SuzieQ]

 
VCU

Jonathan S. Dorey is between 5 feet 10 and six feet tall, 180 to 200 pounds, with brown hair.  He wears glasses and was last seen wearing a blue-and-white plaid jacket with a hood and dark blue jeans. 



By Reed Williams
Published: March 12, 2010
 
A Virginia Commonwealth University foreign-exchange student was discussing possible travel plans in the days before he disappeared from campus, raising his parents' hopes that he might have left on a trip, a family spokesman said Thursday.

Jonathan S. Dorey, a 22-year-old geography student from a small island in the English Channel, was exchanging e-mails with a friend from back home about possibly traveling together to Florida, according to the spokesman, Bob Beebe.

The e-mails between the two friends ended Feb. 28, two days before Dorey was last seen leaving his VCU dormitory with his mountain bike, Beebe said.

His disappearance launched a massive search effort and prompted creation of a Facebook page, titled "Help find Jonny Dorey," which has more than 16,000 members. Another search is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Beebe said it is unlike Dorey to be out of contact with his family. Authorities have said repeatedly that they have no evidence of foul play in the case.

In the e-mails, Dorey and his friend from Guernsey, an island about half the size of Washington, D.C., were making loosely organized plans for the friend to fly to the U.S. for a trip, Beebe said. No travel date was set in the e-mails, Beebe said, and the friend never flew to the states.

Beebe declined to further discuss the messages, calling them private.

Beebe said he is a close friend of the family and that Dorey's parents have designated him as their spokesman. Friends of Dorey in Richmond have declined to be interviewed, referring questions to Beebe or VCU officials.

Dorey's parents, Alan and Debbie, have flown to America with their youngest son, Simon, to join the search effort, Beebe said. The family members do not wish to be interviewed.

Beebe implored anyone who has been in touch with Dorey to contact authorities. "If he's gone off on a train to California, or he's gone hitchhiking somewhere . . . somebody would have had a message," Beebe said.

He said he believes that Dorey's parents turned the e-mails over to police in the Richmond area this week. VCU officials declined to confirm the existence of the messages.

"I'm not going to comment on potential evidence," said VCU spokesman Mike Porter. "It's not helpful to the investigation."

He would only say that police have interviewed more people and are tracking more leads.

Richmond Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Christopher Toepp said investigators are seeking to examine any correspondence Dorey might have exchanged.

"At this point, the more information we have, the better," Toepp said. "That would include Facebook profiles, e-mails, bank records, everything we can possibly get."

The last known sighting of Dorey is in a surveillance video that shows him walking his mountain bike away from Gladding Residence Center at 11:19 a.m. on March 2 after he attended a class, VCU police said earlier this week.

They also said Dorey last used his cell phone that same morning. The last purchase Dorey is known to have made was also that morning, at a 7-Eleven. Friends reported him missing March 4.

Neither Dorey nor his mountain bike have been found, Porter said Thursday. Dorey wears glasses and was last seen in a blue and white plaid jacket with a hood and dark blue jeans.

"He's just a really nice guy," Beebe said. "He's got a wonderful family, wonderful support."

Dorey is an exchange student from the University of the West of England. His family lives a five-minute walk from the western coast of Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands with a population of about 65,000 people. Friends say Dorey speaks with a British accent.

Dorey's father, Alan, is a horticulturist and is president of the Guernsey Growers Association, Beebe said.

According to Facebook postings, those who would like to join in a search by bicycle Friday should meet at 3 p.m. outside Gladding Residence Center at West Main and South Laurel streets.

Anyone with information on Dorey is asked to call VCU police.


Edit: Add link to article per SuzieQ.  MB  :http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/MISS12_20100311-222006/329887

Jonathan Dorey's friends reported him missing March 4, 2010, but from what I'm reading here and have bolded, he was last seen March 2, 2010, which is also the day he last used his cell phone and also the day he made a purchase (possibly on dr or cr card?) at Seven-Eleven.  I will fix the subject title as "Last seen 3/02/10".  MuffyBee

[SuzieQ]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/V/VA_VCU_MISSING_STUDENT_VAOL-?SITE=VASTR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT






Mar 12, 11:47 AM EST


VCU offers reward for info about missing student
 
 
 
 
 
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Virginia Commonwealth University is offering a $5,000 reward as the search continues for a missing exchange student.

The school announced the reward Friday for information leading to the location of Jonathan Dorey.

Dorey was reported missing March 4.

The 22-year-old exchange student from the University of the West of England is 6 feet tall, has brown hair and weighs between 180 and 200. He wears glasses.

The school says Dorey was wearing a blue and white plaid jacket with a hood and dark blue jeans when he was last seen.




 
 

 



 
 

 




 


Edit:  Add date last seen to subject title.  MB

[SuzieQ]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/MISS12_20100311-222006/329887


Link to first article, sorry.


Edit:  add date last seen to subject title.  MB

[SuzieQ]

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12133834


RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The rain didn't stop more than a dozen people from trekking through Richmond bike trails Friday in search for a missing VCU exchange student.

The university is now offering a $5,000 reward to help find 22 year old Jonathan Dorey. Dorey was last seen outside Gladding Residence Center March 2.

Stan Mroczkowski no longer wanted to sit at home wondering what happened to Dorey. A young man he'd never met.

"When it happens close it requires a response, especially when the person is a foreigner and his family is so distant that you come out and show some kind of support," said Mroczkowski.

Stan's niece, also a VCU student, fears the worst.

"Now that he hasn't been heard in a long time, I'm worried it was foul play," said Jenna Daly.

The two were among about 14 people who, despite the rain, met up at Gladding Residence Center to map out a plan. The searchers branched out on bike and foot to scout Richmond hiking and biking trails.

Dorey, an exchange student from England, is an avid cyclist. Local photographer Dave Fess caught up with one group near Brown's Island.

"Happened to run into the situation which is a sad situation," said Fess.

Fess says he's familiar with the North Shore Trail which some searchers scoured.

"I rarely see any cyclists over here, but you never know where someone might turn up," said Fess.

A surveillance camera at Gladding captured Dorey leaving with his mountain bike on March 2. Bank records show Dorey's debit card was used to make a purchase at the 7-11 at Harrison and Main just a couple of blocks from the dorm.

Dorey's parents and younger brother are in Richmond, but don't want to be interviewed. VCU officials say police are meeting with them daily.

"I just hope something turns up like you said for the family so they can put the situation to rest and behind them," said Fess.

If you have information about Dorey's whereabouts, call VCU Police at 828-1196.

[SuzieQ]

Thanks Muffy

Richmond is a very pretty city but unlike Charlottville, I have never felt like going there by myself. It has more of a big city feel to it and it probably has the highest crime rate of any city in VA.
I don't feel good about the outcome of this one. No cell phone or debit card activity
since the day he was last seen doesn't sound good.

[MuffyBee]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/MISS13_20100312-223005/330126/
VCU offers $5,000 reward in case of missing student
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Virginia Commonwealth University yesterday offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the location of Jonathan S. Dorey, a foreign-exchange student who has been missing more than a week.

Also yesterday, about a dozen people gathered in the rain about 3 p.m. outside Gladding Residence Center before embarking on a search of Richmond bicycle trails around Belle Isle and elsewhere. Dorey enjoys riding on trails around Belle Isle, and authorities have searched that area at least twice in the past week or so, including with dogs.

Participants in yesterday's search left Gladding and planned to search trails on the north and south sides of the James River, areas that Dorey, an experienced mountain biker, is believed to frequent. Some searched on foot, others by bicycle.

One of the searchers, Ashley Larson, said her group stopped looking at dark. She and another searcher said afterward that as far as they know, none of the searchers found anything useful to the case.

"We didn't know what to expect, but I think a lot of people wanted to do something," Larson said.

Faisal Savaya, an international VCU student from Iraq, set off from Gladding on a mountain bike, planning to search trails on the south side of the James.

"A lot of people, including me, are having a hard time," Savaya, a 21-year-old sophomore, said earlier yesterday. "We're international students, and Jonny's part of our family."

He said he and some of Dorey's other friends met Thursday afternoon with a VCU counselor and a university police sergeant. The sergeant reassured the students that authorities were doing their best to find him, Savaya said.

Savaya said that as far as he knows, Dorey did not tell any of his friends where he was going. Police said early this week that the last sighting of Dorey was on March 2, when surveillance video captured him walking his bike away from Gladding.

"I have a strong feeling that he's over there on the trails," Savaya said.

VCU officials are releasing little information about the focus of their search, but they have said they have no evidence of foul play. A spokesman for Dorey's family said this week that the disappearance is out of character.

Larson, a VCU senior who has met Dorey, said the disappearance has been scary. "I know a lot of people that are really close to him," she said, "and nobody has any idea what happened."

The reward, she said, "makes me think they haven't found a lot of clues."

VCU spokesman Mike Porter said university investigators are working with Richmond police and have been in contact with several other agencies, including the U.S. State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the British embassy and authorities in Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel that is Dorey's home.

Porter said "every law-enforcement agency in Virginia" has been provided information on the missing 22-year-old student.

"We want to do anything we can to find him," Porter said, "and if offering the reward makes anyone come forward, then it's worth posting the reward."

[MuffyBee]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/British-Exchange-Student-Jonathan-Dorey-Missing-In-Richmond-Virginia-Twitter-Campaign-Underway/Article/201003215572948?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_3&lid=ARTICLE_15572948_British_Exchange_Student_Jonathan_Dorey_Missing_In_Richmond%2C_Virginia%2C_Twitter_Campaign_Underway


British Exchange Student Goes Missing In US
Friday, march 12, 2010



A reward has been offered for information leading to the location of a missing British foreign exchange student in America.
Geography student Jonathan Dorey, from Guernsey, was last seen on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus in Richmond, Virginia, on March 2.

Mr Dorey, known as Jonny, is a University of the West of England student on an exchange visit.

He disappeared after attending a morning lecture.

His mobile phone was turned off and his bicycle vanished, according to reports.

The university is offering a $5,000 (£3,300) reward for information which helps locate the missing student.

There is also a campaign on networking site Twitter - search @findJonnyDorey - to locate him.

John Bennett, VCU senior vice-president, said: "As we continue the search for Jonathan, our thoughts are with his family and friends."

Police say there is no sign of foul play and his parents have travelled to the US to aid the search.

Mr Dorey is described as around 6ft tall, with brown hair and was last seen wearing a white and blue plaid jacket, navy blue backpack, dark jeans and black trainers.

[Nut44x4]

Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia) 
March 12, 2010 Friday
 
Missing student had travel plans;
E-mails indicate VCU student wrote to friend about going to Florida
 
A Virginia Commonwealth University foreign-exchange student was discussing possible travel plans in the days before he disappeared

Dorey from campus, raising his parents' hopes that he might have left on a trip, a family spokesman said yesterday.

Jonathan S. Dorey, a 22-year-old geography student from a small island in the English Channel, was exchanging e-mails with a friend from back home about possibly traveling together to Florida, according to the spokesman, Bob Beebe.

The e-mails between the two friends ended Feb. 28, two days before Dorey was last seen leaving his VCU dormitory with his mountain bike, Beebe said.

Beebe said it is unlike Dorey to be out of contact with his family. Authorities have said repeatedly that they have no evidence of foul play in the case.

In the e-mails, Dorey and his friend from Guernsey, an island about half the size of Washington, D.C., were making loosely organized plans for the friend to fly to the U.S. for a trip, Beebe said. No travel date was set in the e-mails, Beebe said, and the friend never flew to the States.

Beebe said he is a close friend of the family and that Dorey's parents have designated him as their spokesman. Friends of Dorey in Richmond have declined to be interviewed, referring questions to Beebe or VCU officials.

Dorey's parents, Alan and Debbie, have flown to America with their youngest son, Simon, to join the search effort, Beebe said. The family members do not wish to be interviewed.

Beebe implored anyone who has been in touch with Dorey to contact authorities. "If he's gone off on a train to California, or he's gone hitchhiking somewhere . . . somebody would have had a message," Beebe said.

He said he believes that Dorey's parents turned the e-mails over to police in the Richmond area this week. VCU officials declined to confirm the existence of the messages.

"I'm not going to comment on potential evidence," said VCU spokesman Mike Porter. "It's not helpful to the investigation."

Richmond Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Christopher Toepp said investigators are seeking to examine any correspondence Dorey might have exchanged.

"At this point, the more information we have, the better," Toepp said. "That would include Facebook profiles, e-mails, bank records, everything we can possibly get."

The last known sighting of Dorey is in a surveillance video that shows him walking his mountain bike away from Gladding Residence Center at 11:19 a.m. on March 2 after he attended a class, VCU police said earlier this week.

They also said Dorey last used his cell phone that same morning. The last purchase Dorey is known to have made was also that morning, at a 7-Eleven. Friends reported him missing March 4.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100020825&docId=l:1143583781&start=4

[MuffyBee]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article7061486.ece
Manhunt launched for missing British student Jonathan Dorey
Sunday, March 14, 2010

(Handout/PA)
Jonathan Dorey, 22, a geography student from Guernsey, has been missing in the US for 12 days while on a foreign exchange trip

Hundreds of people were today expected to join a search in Virginia for a British college exchange student who disappeared 12 days ago.

Jonathan Dorey, a 22-year-old geography student from the University of the West of England, was last seen leaving the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) campus in the city of Richmond at around 11 am (1600 GMT) on March 2.

He had his mountain bike, a backpack and his mobile phone with him.

His worried friends have spread the word of his disappearance with a Facebook group which now has nearly 19,000 members.
Bob Beebe, a friend of Mr Dorey’s family who is acting as their spokesman, said that the latest search attempt would focus on a rural area near the VCU campus.

“There’s a very large group of people gathering around the Belle Isle area, which was the last known message link to Jonny’s phone,” he said.

“It’s a beautiful rural setting, very popular with mountain bikers and walkers. He may have gone off on a mountain bike trail, had an accident and injured himself. If he’s lying there we want to find him.”

Police said that there was no evidence of foul play. Detectives have been collecting electronic information in a bid to piece together his last movements.

Mr Beebe said it was hoped that these clues, along with help from people in the local area, would help the search team to retrace Mr Dorey’s steps and follow his planned movements.

“Someone somewhere must have seen Jonny Dorey that Tuesday,” he said.

“All it takes is somebody sending a message from an internet cafe, a phone box (phone booth), Twitter, and that single piece of information will help to complete that very complex jigsaw.”

Mr Dorey’s parents have traveled from their home in Guernsey to the US to aid the search. VCU has offered a $5,000 reward for information which helps to locate the missing student.

[SuzieQ]

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12145117


Associated Press - March 15, 2010 5:15 PM ET

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A weekend search of recreational areas frequented by a missing Virginia Commonwealth University student turned up no clues.

VCU spokesman Mike Porter says a search team with six tracking dogs spent several hours Saturday scouring areas in Richmond where Jonathan Dorey was known to ride his mountain bike, which also is missing. Porter said the searchers found no trace of Dorey or the bike.

The 22-year-old exchange student from the University of the West of England was reported missing March 4. He is 6 feet tall, has brown hair and weighs between 180 and 200. He wears glasses.

The school says Dorey was wearing a blue and white plaid jacket with a hood and dark blue jeans when he was last seen.

[SuzieQ]

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/MISS16_20100315-221403/330613/

 
Family members of missing Virginia Commonwealth University foreign-exchange student Jonathan S. Dorey bought bicycles in Richmond yesterday as they continued their search.

Dorey's parents and younger brother flew to the U.S. more than a week ago from their home in Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel. Dorey, an experienced bicyclist, disappeared outside his VCU residence hall two weeks ago today. He last was seen walking from the dorm with his mountain bike.

Jonathan S. Tunner, a local mountain biker who is assisting the Doreys, said the family is interested in searching the Virginia Capital Trail. The unfinished pedestrian and bicycle trail runs from Richmond through Jamestown to Williamsburg, mostly along state Route 5.

"They're very hopeful about finding Jonny, and they thought, given his affinity for the coast . . . they thought that perhaps he was headed toward the coast," said Tunner, who organized a search of trails on both sides of the James River on Sunday.

Bob Beebe, a close friend of the Dorey family, says they have named him as their spokesman and do not wish to be interviewed.

Beebe, who is in Guernsey, said yesterday that family members drove along part of the Virginia Capital Trail on Sunday and were considering acquiring bicycles to further explore it.

Dorey's parents, brother and two other people stopped for lunch Sunday afternoon at Cul's Courthouse Grille in Charles City County during their drive along Route 5, said Cullen Jenkins, co-owner of the restaurant.

The family said they wanted to follow the Capital Trail and search any camping areas along the way, Jenkins said. They also produced a missing-person flier and asked that it be posted at the restaurant.

Yesterday, the Dorey family bought three mountain bikes at Agee's Bicycles in Carytown, said store manager David Oakley.

"They just said that he was kind of a fan of coastal areas, so they were probably going to head east," Oakley said.

The family's home is a five-minute walk from the western coast of Guernsey. Dorey is an exchange student from the University of the West of England.

VCU officials say they have no evidence of foul play in the case.

The authorities have searched on land, using dog teams, and also by air. They combed the Belle Isle area Saturday for at least the third time but turned up nothing.

[SuzieQ]

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12151496
 
New photos of missing VCU student released


 

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - New details have emerged in the search for a missing VCU exchange student. VCU police released two new photos of Jonathan Dorey from the day he went missing, which was two weeks ago.

The Dorey family spokesman said Tuesday they're just waiting for that break that will lead them to Jonathan and hope the pictures will help bring some answers. Meantime, a Richmond cyclist is planning a new search for Jonathan.

For the first time since Dorey's disappearance, surveillance photos offer a glimpse into the past. The moment Dorey left Gladding Residence Center with his mountain bike on March 2 at 11:19 a.m.

"There's the bike and there's what he was wearing, but still a mystery," said Catherine Leth, a VCU student.

The Dorey family spokesman hopes the images remind people of what Dorey was doing and more importantly what he was wearing.

"Maybe that you saw a kid on a bike with a plaid shirt that day," said VCU student Justin Burr.

A $10,000 reward is now up for grabs -- Dorey's home university in England pitched in half.

"Hopefully someone will come out of the woodwork with some little piece of information at least," said Leth.

In the last two weeks, there's been no trace of Dorey despite numerous searches of Richmond bike trails. Local cyclists aren't giving up.

On Monday, the manager at Agee's Bicycles in Carytown said the Dorey family bought three mountain bikes. They've also been put in touch with local cyclists who've suggested trails for them to search.

"The family believes he may have headed east towards the coast and there's a route that goes along Route 5. It's called the Capital Trail," said Jonathan Tunner.

Tunner reached out to the Dorey's on Facebook.

"I think it's clearly very tough on the family but they seem to be very resilient, and frankly very upbeat, and think they have a good shot at finding Jonny," he said.

Tunner says he's going to reach out to both VCU and Richmond police about his search plans and hopes to have something set in stone by the weekend. Meantime, if you have information about Dorey's whereabouts call VCU police at 828-1196.

[SuzieQ]

The two new pictures.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.thisisguernsey.com/2010/03/23/sightings-of-missing-jonny-prove-false/
‘Sightings’ of missing Jonny prove false
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

By Thom Ogier

Jonny DoreyMULTIPLE sightings of missing Guernsey student Jonny Dorey have been reported to American police, but all have proved false.

The 22-year-old former Elizabeth College student (pictured) has been missing for three weeks today, despite the Federal Bureau of Investigation and United States Marshals joining the search.

He disappeared from Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond campus, where he was studying geography, on Tuesday 2 March and has not been heard from since.

A massive search effort also featuring Richmond and Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross is continuing.

The wide-reaching awareness campaign that was started by friends and family on Facebook has spread through the American media.

Virginia Commonwealth University Police chief officer John Venuti said yesterday there had been numerous reported sightings of the Guernseyman, but none turned out to be credible once investigated.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2010/03/23/search-goes-on-for-guernsey-student-missing-in-america/
Search goes on for Guernsey student missing in America
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

POLICE in America are still searching for new leads in the hunt for Guernsey student Jonny Dorey, who went missing three weeks ago today.

The 22-year-old has not been seen since he was recorded on CCTV leaving the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University on Tuesday 2 March.

His details have now been circulated to every police force in Virginia. Capt Grant Warren, of the VCU police department, said that although officers were not now searching any particular spots, all the law enforcement agencies were still looking for Jonny.

‘The search spread throughout the state and outside it,’ he said. A VCU spokesman added that the police were combing through information, such as emails, to see if there was anything to give them a new lead.

His family, friends and police have been searching hiking and biking areas he might have visited.

[Nut44x4]

Missing VCU student's parents plead for help
3/24/10
The parents of a British exchange student at Virginia Commonwealth University are asking the public for help in finding their missing son.

Alan and Debbie Dorey pleaded for information about their son, Jonathan, in a videotaped statement released Wednesday by VCU Police.

The couple also asked their son to contact them.

Jonathan Dorey was reported missing March 4. VCU Police say foul play isn't suspected.

The 22-year-old exchange student from the University of the West of England is 6 feet tall, has brown hair and weighs between 180 and 200. He wears glasses.

The schools are offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Dorey's location.

http://hamptonroads.com/2010/03/missing-vcu-students-parents-plead-help

[SuzieQ]

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12201229

Posted: Mar 25, 2010 7:36 AM EDT
Updated: Mar 25, 2010 12:18 PM EDT
 

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - Rescue crews are on the James River, looking for any sign of missing VCU exchange student Jonathan Dorey.

Those search crews are out for a second day, after some of Dorey's belongings were found near Rockett's Landing at the Intermediate Terminal Wednesday.

At noon today, a Virginia State Police helicopter was going up and down the James nearly nine miles to Osbourne Landing in Henrico County, looking deep down into the murky water for any sign of Dorey.

A cadaver dog leads the way,looking to pick up the scent of a body -- along with several search crews, combing the James river inch by inch for missing Dorey.

On Wednesday, someone near the river spotted a reported bookbag. Investigators later said, what they found was Dorey's belongings.

But on Sunday, William Carney, who walks and fishes often near Rocketts landing, spotted something.

'I walked down to the end of the brick and there was a backpack down there," he said. "But, I never touched it. I just looked at it."

Carney says it turns out, that backpack he saw, is the same one reportedly taken by investigators on Wednesday.  He didn't think anything of the bag, since he spots stuff laying around here often.

"Sometimes you find clothes laying around, shirts and you, I don't do anything with it," he said.

But the finding by investigators is really the first big break in this case. And now Carney is trying to help too.

"Watching the water, and what is floating down the river," Carney said.

Dorey has been missing since March 2. He was seen leaving the Gladding Residence Center with his mountain bike. And about three weeks later, crews think they may be onto something along the James river.

"It's logical if you find evidence in a particular area that you're going to conduct a broader but concentrated search in the area around where you discovered the evidence," said Mike Porter, a VCU spokesman.

Those crews will only go in the water if the cadaver dog spots something. Until then, it's a meticulous search, from land and by air. All this, as a family pleas for the safe return of their missing son.

"Just come home, get in touch with somebody. Okay, I love you," said mother Debbie Dorey.

 

Crews will be back out this morning at Rockett's Landing to continue the search for the missing VCU exchange student.

Police and rescue crews will meet at 8 a.m., get their game plan together and then head back out to Rockett's Landing.

Crews searched the James River for hours yesterday using poles and hooks to find any clues of missing VCU exchange student Jonathan Dorey. That search came after VCU officials say police recovered some of Dorey's belongings yesterday afternoon but wouldn't comment on exactly what was found. Reports indicated Dorey's backpack was found.

A citizen called VCU police to the Rockett's lAnding area. 

Dorey, an exchange student from England, has been missing since march 2nd.

He was last seen leaving Gladding Residence Center with his mountain bike.

Hours before the discovery, Dorey's parents Debbie and Alan made a video plea.

VCU officials say police still do not suspect foul play.

Search crews could possibly get some help from the city, as well as Henrico County in the search for Dorey.

[SuzieQ]

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=12205796

Video at site:
 
No new clues on day two of river search for Jonathan Dorey

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) - The disappearance of a VCU exchange student remains a mystery despite a second day of searching the James River.

22 year old Jonathan Dorey hasn't been seen since March 2. Some of his belongings were found Wednesday near Rocketts Landing, so another search was done. Detectives from VCU and Richmond police as well as Richmond fire and rescue teams spent another six hours at the river Thursday, but no new evidence turned up.

What was a relaxing day for local fisherman, was anything but for search and rescue teams.

"We come out here just about every day after we get off work and do a little bit of fishing when the shad are running. It was very surprising to find out there might be a body floating in this vicinity," said Ralph Norcom.

But no such discovery by Richmond divers after an exhaustive search by boat for any sign of Jonathan Dorey. The current was too strong for diving. At one point, a cadaver dog was brought aboard to sniff for a human scent.

A sight search aboard a Virginia State Police helicopter spanned from Rocketts Landing in Richmond to Osborne Landing in Henrico. Before wrapping up Thursday, divers again combed the north shoreline just below the pier where Dorey's belongings were found the day before. The same items William Carney believes he saw just this past Sunday.

"I came to walk around and then I saw the bag," said Carney.

The significant break came three weeks after Dorey went missing and on the same day Dorey's parents made a plea for his safe return. The exchange student from England was last seen leaving VCU's Gladding Residence Center with his mountain bike.

"Makes you think where the body is at is anybody in the water," said Carney.

Police still do not suspect foul play. The Dorey family spokesman says he has no comment at this time, only to say they're waiting for some positive news.

[MuffyBee]

http://www.channelonline.tv/channelonline_guernseynews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=487830
Missing Guernseyman's belongings found
(2 videos at the above link, including one Jonny's parents Alan and Debbie Dorey have recorded.  It's a video statement to help find their son.)

Alice Humphry reports

'Keep safe' were the last words Jonny Dorey's mother spoke to him before he left to study in America.

The Guernsey student has been missing now for more than three weeks. In an emotional video appeal his parents have begged for their son to get in touch. A backpack and some clothing belonging to the 22 year old have been found by a river.

It's now more than three weeks since Jonny went missing in Virginia. He was last seen on 2nd March and was caught on CCTV leaving his halls of residence. Jonny's mother Debbie Dorey said: "Jonny, I'm just sending you a message from my heart because you know the last thing I said to you when you left was to keep safe and we love you so much, everybody's out there looking for you. There's a lot of media interest. We don't want you to be scared because you know you can come home to Guernsey and you can speak to Si and spend all the time you want and just find out what you really want to do in life but just come home and just get in touch with somebody, OK we love you so much Jonny, OK."

Jonny has been studying at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. Since the video was recorded by the Doreys, it's believed Jonny's backpack and some other possessions have been found near the James River at a place called Rocketts Landing. Jonny and his bicycle have not been found.

A spokesman for the Dorey family says efforts are continuing to find Jonny and their publicity campaign in the Richmond area is ongoing. Police have been checking the area where Jonny's things were found again and are also searching the river. The Doreys want to thank everyone who's helped to try to find their son.

[Nut44x4]

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