Parents of Missing VCU Student Issue Statement

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Virginia Commonwealth University Police on Friday released a statement, included below, from the parents of a missing British exchange student in which they thanked supporters in Great Britain and the United States.

Alan and Debbie Dorey issued the statement from their home in Guernsey. The personal belongings of their son, Jonathan Dorey, were found on March 24 near a development called Rocketts Landing in Downtown Richmond. VCU Police confirm that a witness later came forward and described seeing a man matching Jonathan’s description swimming in the river on the afternoon of March 2, the day he disappeared.

VCU Police continue to treat Jonathan Dorey's disappearance as a missing person case.  The investigation is ongoing but there are no new leads. No media interviews by the family or police are planned at this time.

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Statement from The Dorey Family in Guernsey
Jonny Dorey

Missing VCU Student

Debbie, Alan (parents) and Simon (brother) Dorey returned home to Guernsey, Great Britain on Good Friday April 2nd to be reunited with family and friends after their son Jonny went missing on 2nd March in Richmond, Virginia where he is an exchange student at Virginia Commonwealth University. (VCU)

Jonny was last seen leaving his student Accommodation (Gladding Residence Centre -GRC) on Tuesday 2nd March with his mountain bike. On the 24th March, his rucksack, personal items, outer clothes and shoes were found next to the James River on the outskirts of Richmond.

A witness has since come forward to say that a man fitting Jonny’s description was seen swimming in the river on the afternoon of Tuesday 2nd March. The VCU police are stating that Jonny is still a missing person and are continuing investigations and river based searches for him and his mountain bike around the James River area.

Debbie, Alan and Simon wish to thank all family and friends both in Guernsey and across the world for the overwhelming support and prayers. They also wish to thank everyone involved in Richmond at VCU, student friends, Staff and especially the VCU Campus Police.

The media have been of great support over the last few weeks and the family ask that they continue to respect their privacy at this unbelievably difficult time.