Crime & Safety

Search of Harbor Area Unsuccessful for Missing Student from New Hyde Park

Authorities to continue search for Harsha Maddula Wednesday.

Authorities searching for a missing Northwestern University student from New Hyde Park will resume their quest today, but in a much smaller area than was originally cast.

The search for sophomore Harsha Maddula will not continue in the area of Wilmette Harbor near Lake Michigan after a search in that area yesterday was not successful according to the university’s website.

Northwestern police and community service officers, aided by personnel from more than 20 law enforcement agencies and fire departments, conducted a thorough search of the waters Wednesday as well as the surrounding area, yielding no results.

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The search area was moved following an investigation into Maddula’s cell phone activity which showed that the closest cell phone tower to the last signal received from his phone was in that area. The signal was received early on the morning of Sept. 22, shortly after Maddula was last seen at an off-campus party on September 22 at approximately 12:30 a.m. leaving a party off campus.

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

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

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


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