Police searching for a missing 22-year-old college student from Virginia have tracked his MetroCard to the 145th Street station on the northbound No. 1 line the day he disappeared, law enforcement sources tell NBC New York.
Investigators are pursuing video footage from cameras at the station, in hopes of learning more about what happened to Ian Burnet.
They have also learned that Burnet, of Richmond, Va., has attempted suicide at least three times previously. One of those attempts included drinking alcohol and taking prescription pills.
Burnet left his Richmond home on Dec. 26 and took a bus to New York City, where he and several friends planned to rent out an apartment for the week, authorities said.
He last texted his parents on Dec. 27, and police say his last known contact was another text with a friend on Dec. 30. Burnet was last seen at the apartment where he had been staying on Riverside Drive.
On Wednesday, police searched the boiler room, three empty apartments and an elevator shaft in the building where Burnet had been staying. Such searches are routine in missing persons cases.
No new evidence was found.
Burnet's family has said the boy has no history of drug or alcohol abuse and comes from a loving home. The engineering student is scheduled to graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013.
Burnet is described as a white male, 5’8”, 131 lbs., with green eyes and curly dark brown hair. There is a Facebook page dedicated to helping find him.
Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact either NYPD Detective Sanchez, Detective Davis or Sgt. Greene, at the 30th Precinct (451 W. 151st St.) 212-690-8842.
