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Feb 6, 2006 10:39 pm US/Central
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Family, Friends Hold Out Hope For Missing Student
by Sue Turner
St. Cloud, Minn. (WCCO) ―
After nearly four days, there is still no sign of a missing St. Cloud State University student.
Scot Radel, 21 of Owatonna, Minn., was last heard from around 11:30 p.m. Thursday when he called his friends after leaving a St. Cloud, Minn. bar.
Investigators said Radel asked for directions to another bar where he was to meet his friends, but never showed up.
Police and firefighters conducted a massive search Monday covering a 100-block radius in downtown St. Cloud looking for Radel.
Seventeen teams of three people spread out across the area, leaving no stone unturned.
St. Cloud Chief of Police Dennis Ballantine asked residents to check their garages and sheds on their property to eliminate possibilities.
On Saturday, police did not think footprints they found on the Mississippi River matched Radel's, but on Sunday the prints were sent to the BCA or FBI to be further analyzed.
The prints showed someone walked a good distance onto the ice, police said.
Due to a warmer than usual winter, the Mississippi River was not frozen solid.
Stearns County Sheriff John Sanner hadn't decided whether to put his divers into the river in hopes of finding Radel.
Radel's disappearance has everyone, even the chief of police baffled.
Chris Mueller of the St. Cloud Fire Department said, "If they've seen anything odd or they have any buildings open that we could go check that maybe he climbed into."
A large group of his family and friends from Owatonna continued to do what they could as well.
Allan Radel, Scot's dad said, "Everybody is very willing and helpful and putting tips together."
He said his son actually has black hair with highlights, not brown like the police description originally said.
Monday, police held a briefing for students on campus, updating them on the status of the investigation.
Police said while they are not looking for volunteers from campus at the time, they are compiling a list of students who may be able to assist in the search if or when more volunteers are needed.
The Jacob Wetterling Foundation tried to keep searchers hopes high Monday. One representative from the foundation said hope leads to leads ... something everyone is hoping for.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)