5/1/98
Contact: Dwight Woodward, Ohio University News Services,
(740) 593-1043
Ted Jones, Ohio University Police Department, (740) 593-1911
News directors, editors: A photo of Keith Noble is available at: http://www.ohiou.edu/news/pix/NOBLE.jpg
ATHENS, Ohio -- The search for Keith Noble, an Ohio University freshman missing since early Saturday morning, continued today as members of Noble's family, friends and students joined university and city police officers in a second search of the city and university residence halls.
Noble was last seen at a party at 171 W. Washington St., Athens, about 1:10 a.m. Saturday.
Ohio University Police Chief Ted Jones met with Athens City Police officers and reviewed the case Friday morning after interviewing witnesses Thursday, Jones said. Officials from local and state law enforcement agencies used tracking dogs, horses, bicycles, a boat and a helicopter during a search Wednesday.
"There is nothing new so that means we want to go back and search the area and make sure we've done everything possible to find him," Jones said.
Jones met with Noble's parents and family members and agreed to allow them and student volunteers to help with a search of university residence halls Friday afternoon, Jones said.
"We are looking for areas that might contain a hazard, such as a window grate or storm sewer that he might have fallen into," Jones said. "We are going to expand the radius of the original search and search portions of the area that has been searched. The canine units will sniff storm sewers and other areas that could have presented a hazard to the young man."
University police have already conducted a thorough search of tunnels housing heating pipes that run beneath the campus, Jones said.
Police officers will return to the area previously searched with trained tracking dogs, and Noble's family members will accompany officers searching the area between West Washington Street and Noble's residence hall on the South Green.
Posters with Noble's photograph, description and statement announcing a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the discovery of Noble's whereabouts have been posted across campus and the city.
Noble is a graduate of Worthington Kilbourne High and still has many friends in Worthington that have joined with family members in creating the Keith Noble Recovery Fund. Donations may be sent to Fifth Third Bank in Columbus or by contacting Ron Shoemaker at (614) 846-0710. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Noble should contact the Ohio University Police Department at (740) 593-1911.
