TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (WSVN) - Authorities continued their search for a Florida State University sophomore from South Florida who went missing, as his loved ones made a passionate plea for help.
According to the Leon County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Justin Shields was last seen Wednesday by his friends on campus.
Friday afternoon, investigators said, his vehicle was located in a field northeast of campus.
“Today we were notified that they found his car about 25 miles north of Tallahassee in a desolate area,” said his mother during a phone interview with 7News as she fought back tears. “His wallet and his phone were inside the car, but he is nowhere to be found.”
Deputies were able to determine the vehicle found along Old Magnolia Road was driven by Shields after speaking with his parents on the phone.
As the search continues, so do the questions surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance.
“I think that’s the question we’re trying to get figured out: why he’s here, why the car was up here,” said LCSO spokesperson David Teems. “At this point, there’s no foul play that’s been suspected, but he’s not familiar with the area. There’s no logical reason for him to have been up here, that we’re aware of.”
UPDATE: The search continues for 19 year old, FSU student, Justin Dean Shields. Right now search dogs and LCSO investigators are continuing their efforts that began yesterday. Anyone with information, please call (850) 606-5800. pic.twitter.com/PngehwFKCn
— Leon Co Sheriff, Fl (@LeonSheriff) September 8, 2018
Shields’ mother, Ann Farrar, said she texted her son Friday and received no response. She spoke with 7News while heading to the state’s capital Friday night to link up with law enforcement and search for themselves.
“We’re on our way to Tallahassee to try to find him,” she said.
Shields, a recent graduate from Coral Reef High School, stands 6 feet tall, weighs around 180 pounds, and has blue eyes and blond hair.
“He was a good student, very wonderful child, loves to work out and take care of himself and eat right,” said Farrar. “He’s going to school for business. He worked really, really hard to get into FSU.”
Farrar said she last spoke to her son on the day he disappeared.
“We were just talking about school and what he was doing,” she said. “He’s starting to cook because he doesn’t have a meal plan, so I was just asking him what he was making, making sure that he was eating right.”
Investigators said someone matching the student’s description was seen walking on Old Magnolia Road at around 7 a.m. on Friday.
Friends and family of the missing student have been posting photos of him on Facebook and Twitter, as they try to generate leads in this missing persons case.
Authorities continued their search on Saturday. Photos posted to Twitter by the Leon County Sheriff’s Office showed deputies and K9 units combing through the wooded area near the spot where Shields’ car was found.
The agency’s aviation unit and dive team also searched the area.
“We’re just reaching out to anyone that can help us, that saw him or spoke to him or know anything, anything at all,” said Farrar.
Officials are not aware of any medical conditions or physical handicaps that would present a danger to Shields at this time.
A command has been set up as authorities canvas the area around the clock.
Anyone with information on Shields’ whereabouts is urged to call LCSO at (850) 606-5800.
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