Rice University police in Houston are appealing for the public's help to find a 25-year-old man from Jordan who has been missing for more than 36 hours, in a search complicated by a language barrier, a disability and the region's dangerous summer heat. Officers say they need as many eyes and ears as possible as they try to track down the vulnerable young man.
The man had traveled to Rice to take part in an international soccer tournament being hosted on the campus. According to police and his suite mate, he arrived on Saturday at around 9 p.m., unpacked his belongings, said he wanted to explore Houston and then left. He was last seen just after midnight heading into Sunday.
He was reported missing after he failed to return to his room and did not show up for breakfast, according to authorities. When he was last seen, he was wearing a light blue T-shirt and black pants, and police have shared that description in the hope that someone in the community will recognize him and come forward.
Lieutenant Fernandez of the Rice University Police Department said the man has cerebral palsy but is mobile and able to walk, move around and communicate. He speaks only Arabic and no English, and he does not have a phone with him, leaving him without an easy way to call for help or to be reached as the hours stretch on.
Police described an all-hands effort to locate him, saying they are collaborating with the Houston Police Department, Metro, West University and the Texas Medical Center, sharing information and reviewing camera systems across the area. Officers have also tried to reach the man's family, though some phone numbers have not gone through, and are coordinating through the event's organizers.
Authorities underscored how precarious the situation is, noting that the man does not know the area, could be low on funds, and is out in extreme heat without a phone. They urged residents to stay vigilant and to be aware that he has a disability but is able to walk, asking anyone with information to contact the Rice University Police Department.