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Family, Cops 'Very Worried' About Missing Student

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Nov 19, 2008 8:18 pm US/Central

Family, Cops 'Very Worried' About Missing Student

Benjamin Collen Last Seen On Saturday

Reporting
Dana Kozlov

CHICAGO (CBS) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Benjamin Collen, 19, is a student at IIT and has been missing since Nov. 15
Collen Family

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Family members and police are "very worried" about an Illinois Institute of Technology student who has been missing since Saturday.

Benjamin Collen, 19, was last seen near 31st Street and South Lake Shore Drive on Saturday, according to Wentworth Area Special Victim Unit Detective Coran. He nodded to an acquaintance Saturday morning, and hasn't been seen since.

"It's hard to describe. I'm pretty numb," said Benjamin's mom, Lauren Collen.

"We are treating this very seriously and are very worried," Coran said.

Collen, who was actively involved in IIT's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), has never gone missing before, Coran said.

Collen's mother told police he was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket, brown shoes and a dark t-shirt, but the acquaintance who saw him Saturday said he was not wearing a jacket—only the dark t-shirt and jeans when the two exchanged nods. Coran said it was strange that Collen was not wearing a jacket, considering the cold weather.

Collen's parents say they understand he liked to come to the 31st Street beach and often walked along the pier - which juts out far into Lake Michigan.

Collen, of Lincolnwood, was on no known medication and was not behaving irregularly before he went missing, Coran said.

Collen's fellow ROTC students searched the vicinity of 31st Street and South Lake Shore Drive Tuesday, but found no sign of the student.

Collen is a white male with hazel eyes and brown hair. He lives in a student housing area near 32nd Street and Wabash Avenue, police said.

Collen's mom says there's some indication her son may have been depressed. His cell phone and computer were still in his dorm room. But they refuse to believe the worst.

Anyone with information is asked to call Wentworth Area detectives at (312) 747-8385.

Facebook: Benjamin Collen Is Missing

The STNG wire contributed to this report

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