Search underway for missing 21-year-old UW Stevens Point student

STEVENS POINT (AP) -- Police in Stevens Point conducted an extensive search using about 150 volunteers and tracking dogs Sunday for a missing University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student.

21-year-old Eric Duffey was last seen about 1:15 a.m. Saturday leaving Joe's Bar in Stevens Point. He was believed to be heading home.



Police told reporters Sunday they did not suspect foul play, and that they believed alcohol was a factor in Duffey's disappearance. His parents said he was celebrating his 21st birthday. "I know that they were drinking, but it doesn't sound like they were drinking heavily,'' his father, Daren Duffey said. "It wasn't like they were doing 21 shots or anything like that.''

The father helped with the search Sunday afternoon, family members said.

Eric Duffey was wearing an orange flannel shirt, blue jeans, a brown jacket and possibly a gray and white stocking hat. He's about 6 feet tall, abut 150 pounds, with red hair and green eyes.

Police sent a Code Red Alert out Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning. With the alert, police asked residents between downtown Stevens Point and Duffey's residence to check their property for signs of him.

Police tried to use cellphone pings to locate the student, but the pings only showed that his phone was in the Stevens Point area.

If you have any information in this case, you're asked to call Stevens Point police at (715) 346-1500.