Texas authorities account for missing doctoral student
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 02/02/2007
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Authorities in El Paso, Texas, said Eric Campbell, a missing Purdue doctoral student, has been accounted for.
Javier Sambrano, a public informations officer with the El Paso Police Department, said no physical contact with him has been made, but Campbell, who was last seen Jan. 15, appears to be in good health.
"We have some credible sources positively identifying Campbell," Sambrano said. "He had voluntarily checked himself into a hotel and checked out this afternoon."
Sambrano said the search for Campbell, who is believed to be in the El Paso and Juarez, Mexico, area, will continue.
"Any time we have a missing person, investigation continues until physical contact is made," he said.
Along with El Paso authorities, Campbell's mother, Karen, is unsure of the exact whereabouts of her son.
"I really don't have anything to say; it's too difficult at this time," she said.
Campbell, 33, is the second Purdue student to go missing in three weeks. He was on his way back to the University from a wedding in Juarez.
The doctoral student from Avilla, Ind., was last heard from on Jan. 18, when El Paso authorities confirmed he had purchased an airline ticket to fly from El Paso to the Indianapolis International Airport. There is no evidence he boarded the plane.
Campbell re-enrolled as a doctoral student at the University this semester. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from Purdue in 1997 and 2000, respectively. John Hartin, head of the mechanical engineering technology department, hired Campbell as a teaching assistant upon his return.
"I had a positive impression (of Campbell)," Hartin said. "He was energetic and friendly and a very open, positive young man."
Although he was not at the University when Campbell was previously a student, Hartin said Campbell had a good reputation in the department.
"(Campbell) was considered reliable and mature," he said. "(This is) out of character for what he seemed to be.
"He was excited about coming back to Purdue and it really showed," Hartin said.