UPDATE: Jacob was found dead Saturday afternoon
The search for a missing Maryland college student — who may be armed — stretched into its third day Wednesday with no sight of Jacob Marberger or word from the Pennsylvania native.
Although Marberger has made no direct threats, his parents fear he may have left home with a gun, and investigators said he was seen on surveillance video buying ammunition at a Wal-Mart about halfway between his home and Washington College, where he studies.
The college went into lockdown Monday, canceled classes Tuesday and said Wednesday the Chestertown, Maryland, campus would be shuttered through Thanksgiving.
College administrators opted to close the school because Marberger had been recently suspended for showing off an unloaded antique rifle on campus in early October. Two days earlier, he'd been the victim of a prank that left him feeling persecuted by other students.
Marberger's distraught parents asked the school for a copy of their only child's last known communication — an email sent Sunday to college officials that included the 19-year-old's letter of resignation from his position as speaker of the student senate:
U.S. & World
"Senators and members of the Washington College community,
"I first and foremost wish to apologize for my failures in conduct and behavior. What I have done is unacceptable and something I gravely regret. It does not suit a leader and representative of this fine campus to be engaging in such things that threaten and sully stability here at Washington. For this I am deeply sorry.
"As such, I step down from my position as Speaker and hope to pass it onto another more tempered and capable individual who will do you all well.
"I hope that my transgression has not been enough to completely obscure what I had hoped to provide by holding this position. Student government has been a great passion of mine and I hope you can all recognize that in SGA business I always put my best foot forward and strove to get the most out of the group we have here.
"It was a pleasure to have had the opportunity to work with every one of you, and I wish to make clear that this situation should not reflect on any of the members of the executive or review boards. They are all honest, competent, and wonderful examples of student leadership — this was my own failure.
"I hope that I can receive your forgiveness.
"Thank you, are there any motions on the floor?"
Investigators believe Marberger's resignation may have pushed him too far, emotionally. The sophomore left campus abruptly Sunday, drove to his parents' home overnight in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, took a gun case — and possibly a gun — then left around 4 a.m. Monday without talking to anyone.
Marberger hasn't answered phone calls since, but investigators said surveillance video shows him buying five rounds of ammunition around 7 a.m. Monday inside a Wal-Mart in Hamburg, Berks County, about three hours north of his college and less than two hours from his parents' Cheltenham Township home.
Friends organized a vigil Wednesday night to support his family. The vigil is planned for 6:15 p.m. at Beth Am synagogue located at 971 Old York Road in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.
When Marberger vanished Monday, his former high school — Cheltenham — also took precautions and went in to "lockout" mode, which keeps anyone from readily going in or out of the school.
High school classmates described Marberger as honest, outspoken, intelligent and ethically conscious.
"He has a very goofy, individual sense of humor," Josiah Harmer said, remembering a conversation he had over the summer with Marberger, who "was really happy about his college experience and seemed to be doing really well."
Harmer said Marberger had different interests than most teens and in high school it took time for him to find a good group of friends.
"When kids are doing typical high school stuff and you're reading foreign policy journals, it can be hard to relate," Harmer said.
Evan Brown, who has been friends with Marberger since middle school, is pleading for his safe return.
"He loves to talk and debate and crack jokes and do silly accents," Brown said. "We care for him and want him to come home safe. Whatever actually happened that sparked all this, whatever is happening now, it will get better. I'm worried about you, bud. Please get in touch with someone; we just want to hear from you."
