Austin Ray Retterath

Missing Minnesota College Student Last Spotted Near Mississippi River

Police in Minnesota are searching for a missing college student who was last seen near the Mississippi River, WCCO-TV reports.

Austin Ray Retterath was reported missing early Sunday in Minneapolis, according to an alert from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

The 19-year-old is a student at the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering.

Police believe Retterath was last seen near the Mississippi River at the intersection of East River Road and Franklin Avenue, which is near the university’s Minneapolis campus.

“He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt, dark shorts and white shoes,” the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said in the alert. “The University of Minnesota Police are currently searching for him and are concerned for his safety.”

Retterath is 6-foot-2, weighs approximately 160 pounds and has blond hair. He is from the Twin Cities suburb of Woodbury, just east of St. Paul.

Authorities have not identified when exactly Retterath was last seen or whether he was alone or with others at the time, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

In an email to the newspaper, university spokesperson Jake Ricker said law enforcement “is actively searching for him at this time” and that the search has included areas near or in the river.

An Instagram account believed to belong to Retterath says he is set to graduate in 2025. He made the dean’s list in fall 2021, according to the Star Tribune.

To report information about Retterath’s location, call the University of Minnesota Police at 612-624-2677.

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[Featured image: Austin Ray Retterath/Police Handout]