The University of Maryland Police Department has provided an update on the search for 22-year-old Dilan Shaan Ashar, a University of Maryland student who has been reported missing.
Ashar is also a 2022 graduate of Sandy Spring Friends School. The school said it is closely following developments and has asked the community to share information about his disappearance.
According to University of Maryland Police, Ashar was captured on camera near Terrapin Trail Garage at approximately 2:30am on October 2. Police said he is without his cell phone, wallet or identification.
The department said detectives and officers initially searched the Terrapin Trail Garage area after Ashar was spotted on surveillance footage. A drone was used around noon on October 3 to search wooded areas near the garage, followed by a K-9 search later that evening.
On the morning of October 4, nearly 50 first responders and nine dogs participated in a systematic search covering approximately 110 acres around Terrapin Trail Garage. Police later used a drone to search the area around the University of Maryland golf course.
Since Ashar was initially reported missing, patrol officers have also repeatedly checked parking garages, wooded areas, Lake Artemesia and nearby parks.
Police said the searches have not located Ashar and that investigators will continue checking those areas and others.
The department is continuing to review surveillance footage and has released additional images showing Ashar outside Terrapin Trail Garage on the morning of October 2. Anyone who was in the area at the time or remembers seeing someone matching his description is asked to contact University of Maryland Police at 301-405-3555.
Police are also asking residents and businesses in the area to review security and vehicle camera footage and encouraging members of the public to continue sharing Ashar’s information and photos.
Sandy Spring Friends School shared the missing-person information with its community, writing, “SSFS is closely following updates regarding Dilan Ashar, a University of Maryland student and graduate of SSFS (Class of 2022), who has been reported missing.”
