Interviews, campus search yield no location of missing student
First posted: Tuesday, Nov. 11, 11:19 a.m. CST
Last updated: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 5:19 p.m. CST
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University Police has interviewed friends, co-residents and family of a missing Northwestern student but has still not located him after following up on all leads from the community, the university said in a statement Wednesday (which is reproduced below).
Trever Boehm was reported missing on Sunday after having not been seen since a week ago.
“University Police officers have interviewed students in the residence hall where Trevor lives, other friends, his family and other persons who may have relevant information,” Director of Media Relations Chuck Loebbaka said in Wednesday’s statement. UP has also searched campus and its buildings.
Boehm, 20, a freshman in the School of Communication from Monument, Col., has not been seen in classes or used his WildCARD at dining halls since Wednesday, said Al Cubbage, vice president of university relations. He was not able to confirm who had last seen Boehm, a South Mid-Quads resident, but said there was no indication of foul play.
Communication freshman Trevor Boehm was last seen on Wednesday.Cubbage said Boehm’s parents came to visit for Parents’ Weekend. When they discovered he was missing, they filed the missing person report with University Police on Sunday.
“I’ve never known somebody who knew him who didn’t like him,” McCormick sophomore Tyler Boschert said.
Boschert has known Boehm since high school, and they entered Northwestern in the same year — although Boehm left school part of the way through last year and is still considered a freshman.
Boschert recalls getting a surprise phone call from Boehm during his senior year of high school, when Boehm was accepted to Northwestern under Early Decision. Boschert said the joy in Boehm’s voice was palpable.
“You could just tell how happy he was,” Boschert said.
Boschert urged fellow students to “keep the chin up” and “stay optimistic,” as the search is now in the hands of people who know what they’re doing.
Boehm has been an uncommon presence around his South Mid-Quads dorm room this quarter, according to fellow residents.
Boehm, a theater major who lives in a single on SMQ’s fourth floor, rarely spoke to others in the dorm, several residents said. Some students said that they did not frequently see him in the small residence hall.
“I’ve seen him once or twice,” said Weinberg freshman Eric Mayo, who lives across the hall from Boehm’s room. “The [fourth] floor is kind of anti-social,” he said, adding, “No one really talks to each other all that much.”
Though few of the SMQ residents interviewed knew Boehm well, many are concerned. Kelly Kreft, a Weinberg freshman who lives two doors down from Boehm, says she hasn’t spoken with him since the second week of school. But, she added, “He seemed like a nice guy. I hope he’s all right.”
South Mid-Quads, the residence of missing NU student Trevor Boehm. Photo by Darren McRoy / North by Northwestern.SMQ community assistant Benedict Lim declined to comment, saying CAs are prohibited from speaking with media.
A missing person report has also been filed with a national police database. University Police is partnering with Evanston Police Department in its search for Boehm. University Police searched campus on Sunday and Monday, also looking for Boehm’s bike, a green Schwinn, Cubbage said.
“We are very concerned,” Cubbage added.
Boehm is described as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing approximately 145 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. On his right forearm, he has a small birthmark.
According to University Archives, the last major disappearance of a student was in 1921.
Cubbage urged anyone with information to contact Northwestern University Police at 847-491-3254. Evanston Police and University Police have yet to respond to calls for comment.
Wednesday’s statement from the university is below:
FOR RELEASE: Nov. 12, 2008
CONTACT: Alan K. Cubbage at 847-491-4886 or a-cubbage@northwestern.eduStatement by Alan K. Cubbage, Northwestern University Vice President for University Relations Regarding Missing Student
The Northwestern University Police Department continues its investigation into the missing persons case of Trevor J. Boehm, a Northwestern University freshman who has been missing since late last week. University Police officers have interviewed students in the residence hall where Trevor lives, other friends, his family and other persons who may have relevant information. University Police also has searched the Northwestern campus and buildings on campus. In addition, University Police has contacted the Evanston Police Department and Chicago Police Department, as well as field information with state and national missing persons databases.
Northwestern University Police are following up on all leads received from the community, regarding possible sightings of Trevor or his bicycle, which also has been reported missing. None of this information has led to his being located.
Anyone with information that may help locate Trevor should contact Northwestern University Police at 847-491-3254.
The University remains in contact with Trevor’s family. We continue to hope for the best in this difficult situation.
Alex Campbell, Chloe Benoist and Amanda Litman contributed to this report.
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“I’ve seen him once or twice,” said Weinberg freshman Eric Mayo, who lives across the hall from Boehm’s room. “The [fourth] floor is kind of anti-social,” he said, adding, “No one really talks to each other all that much.”
Sad how somethings at Northwestern don’t change.
Eileen
November 11, 2008 at 9:38 pm
I hear that Trevor was actually a sophomore according to his Facebook page.
Alexander
November 11, 2008 at 9:50 pm
The university confirmed that he is a freshman, although we do know that he was at Northwestern last school year.
-Alex Campbell, NBN’s news editor
Alex Campbell
November 11, 2008 at 10:06 pm
There is a long list of missing college students. There is not enough information in this story to determine if he is another to be added to the list which includes Brian Shaffer, Maura Murray, Michael Negrete, and Justin Gains.
VisionAndPsychosis.Net, a psychology project on the Internet, is proposing that Subliminal Distraction is responsible for these events. SD is explained in college psychology under psychophysics. It was discovered as a problem when it caused mental breaks for office workers. Cubicles were designed to deal with the vision startle reflex to solve that problem by 1968.
Although this is a forty-year old known problem no school offers Cubicle Level Protection for study areas or computer work stations. They are unaware that such a problem exists.
L K Tucker
November 11, 2008 at 10:09 pm
“Though few knew Boehm well, many are concerned.” Are you kidding me? Excuse me…this is complete speculation. I knew him pretty well and I happen to know he had plenty of friends. You can’t jump to a conclusion like that by simply talking to the people in his tiny dorm.
Anonymous
November 12, 2008 at 12:20 am
Okay, just because the people you interviewed from his dorm don’t know him doesn’t mean that “few know him well”. Trevor has plenty of friends, and in the past few weeks I’m glad to say that I’ve become one of them. He’s one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met, he’s down to earth and sincerely kind. He was here for a little while last year, and he’s given me some insight about the school and how to find places on campus, that sort of stuff. I last saw him at lunch on Wednesday. Stop talking about him in the past tense. He’s going to turn up. Please help.
Corinne
November 12, 2008 at 12:21 am
I second the two previous comments. Trevor is outgoing and charismatic–I find it very hard to believe that he has few friends.
Tyler
November 12, 2008 at 1:14 am
#4 — This is really not an appropriate place for you to post thinly veiled Scientologist propaganda.
Emma
November 12, 2008 at 1:50 am
I hope they find this guy soon – and the he is ok. I googled the people that #4 was talking about and found this site.
http://coltonleviclark.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/this-months-featured-case-brian-shaffer/
it’s so weird how sometimes we are so separated from the world at NU, cuz this seems to happen more often than we think
René Jovel aka SupaKat
November 12, 2008 at 10:42 am
HI everyone,
I am Trevor’s sister-I would appreciate that this forum be about Trevor and ways we can find him and soley about that. Thank you for keeping the information on here relevant.
Also, I appreciate all of you that care about my brother and are doing your best to help us find him. He is the most loving and sweet guy you will ever meet. I pray we find him quickly and find him in good shape. So thanks again to all that have posted comments-my family and I couldn’t appreciate you more!
Brittany Boehm
November 12, 2008 at 11:38 am
I met Trevor in grade school and he was my neighbor. Trevor is one of the nicest guys I have ever met. My thoughts are with Boehm family.
Alex Watt
November 12, 2008 at 6:08 pm
#8 Emma Subliminal Distraction is included in college psychology under psychophysics. It has noting to do with Scientology I don’t understand why you suggest that.
Most who did not take first semester psychology do not believe the bizarre way the vision startle reflex is triggered or the hazard it allows.
There is no way to differentiate between crime, abductions, or Dissociative Fugue in the beginning of a disappearance.
Visit the Missing Students page at VisionAndPsychosis.Net and tell your school friends about it. I am not selling anything and no advertising is on the site.
When my wife had a psychotic break thirty days after her office was changed I learned this phenomenon is unknown in medicine and psychiatry.
L K Tucker
November 12, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Brittany, please know that all of us at Northwestern – faculty, staff, and students – are thinking of your family now, and hoping that Trevor is located ASAP. He is an important part of our community.
anonymous
November 12, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Prayers are with you and your family.
Let’s hope he turns up soon.
Ginger Brew
November 14, 2008 at 2:16 am