RIVERDALE, Utah — Police have released new information pointing to the possible whereabouts of a missing 17-year-old foreign exchange student.
READ: Riverdale police ask public for help locating endangered missing foreign exchange student
On Saturday, the Riverdale Police Department said it had generated leads that signaled a possibility that Kai Zhuang has been camping in the Wasatch Mountains. They released new images that appeared to have been taken from store surveillance video and a photo of a tent that Kai may be using.
"He had a recent interaction with law enforcement in Provo in which he had camping gear with him. Kai has also made several recent purchases of additional camping-related supplies. The camping gear that Kai was in possession of and/or purchased is not currently accounted for leading law enforcement to believe that he could be utilizing the gear," police said in a statement.
Riverdale police declined to comment to FOX 13 News beyond the statement on Saturday night.
The Provo Police Department confirmed to FOX 13 News on Saturday that officers encountered Kai on Dec. 20. The agency declined to say much because of Riverdale police's ongoing investigation, but told FOX 13 News Kai indicated to them he was going camping.
Riverdale police now fear that because of cold weather, Kai could be in physical danger. In their statement, the department asked people to check wooded and camping areas for any sign of him and call police if he is seen.
The search for Kai has been going since Thursday when he disappeared from his host family's home in Riverdale. Police said that they had reason to believe he had been taken against his will. His parents, who live in China, received a photo and a ransom demand, police said at a news conference Friday.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Kai Zhuang is asked to contact the Riverdale Police Department at 801-394-6616 or Weber Emergency Dispatch at 801-395-8221.
