News Service

Missing ISU student found dead

The body of a missing Iowa State University student was found in a campus lake April 3. Abel Bolanos, a 19-year-old sophomore from Rolling Meadows, Ill., had been missing since early morning March 31, when he left a party on South Hyland Ave.

Abel Bolanos

Law officers, rescue teams and volunteers had been engaged in an exhaustive search for Bolanos when the body was discovered by divers at 3:39 p.m. April 3 on the southeast corner of the lake.

Funeral set

Funeral services for Abel Bolanos will be Monday, April 9, at 10 a.m. at St. Colette Church, 3900 Meadow Drive, Rolling Meadows, Ill.

Preliminary autopsy

Preliminary results from an April 4 autopsy indicated that Bolanos died as a result of accidental drowning. Final determination of the cause of death awaits medical tests that may take several weeks to complete.

President's statement

"The tremendous outpouring of support and commitment to the search for Abel this week reflects the caring nature of the people of our university community," ISU President Gregory Geoffroy said in an April 4 statement. "Every student is an important part of our university family, and we will miss Abel very much."

Counseling for students

The Counseling Center offers services to students on the third floor of the Student Services Building during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., M-F. Counselors also will student groups upon request during the day or in the evening.

Student volunteers who were members of Bolanos' English class, conducted a door-to-door search in south Ames April 3, hoping to find information about their classmate.

The search

ISU Police, Ames Police, Ames Fire, Boone Co. Search and Rescue, the Iowa State Patrol, Civil Air Patrol, the STAR 1 Search and Rescue team and numerous volunteers were involved in the search.