Crime & Safety

Coast Guard Joins Search for Missing Student from New Hyde Park

Authorities searching area near Lake Michigan after reviewing cellphone records.

Coast Guard officials have joined in the hunt for a missing Northwestern University Student from New Hyde Park Wednesday, widening the search area to include parts of Lake Michigan.

Harsha Maddula was reported missing on Sunday after a party the night before, with a massive search effort underway on the Illinios campus. Authorities widened the search area to include the area of Wilmette Harbor on Lake Michigan.

After conducting an examination of Maddula’s cellphone records, it showed that the closest cellphone tower to the last signal received from his phone was in the area of Lake Michigan. The signal was received early in the morning of Sept. 22, shortly after Maddula was last seen. 

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Wilmette Harbor is approximately two miles north of Maddula’s residence hall on Northwestern's Evanston campus.

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Find out what's happening in New Hyde Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Maddula is described as an 18-year-old male of Indian descent, 5 feet 8 inches tall, approximately 150 pounds, with black hair, dark brown eyes and wearing black-framed glasses. He was last seen wearing a grey long sleeve sweater with white and black stitching and wearing dark grey pants and brown shoes.

He was also recently diagnosed with diabetes, which forced him to return to Long Island earlier this year according to a CBS report.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Harsha Maddula, please contact Northwestern University Police at 847-491-3254.


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