On Christmas Eve, the search for a missing Texas A&M student, who was about to graduate, came to an end.
According to Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley’s social media pages Saturday evening, Tanner Hoang, 22, was found dead near Pennybacker Bridge on Loop 360, not far from where his car was found on Thursday.
“Certainly not the outcome so many people had hoped for. Please keep Tanner’s family in your prayers during this difficult time,” wrote the agency.
Hoang’s family reported him missing on Dec. 16 after he shut off his phone and disappeared around 8 a.m. Amber Alert Network Brazos Valley put out an alert on Dec. 18 for the college student.
His last known location was around 11 a.m. in College Station’s 900 block of Colgate Drive. He got gas around noon in Caldwell, Texas.
Fox 26 Houston reported Hoang’s family was headed to College Station to attend his graduation the weekend he disappeared. They were supposed to meet him for lunch, but never did.
Fox 26 reported that Texas A&M University said Hoang was not qualified to graduate.
On Dec. 22, Hoang’s car was found unoccupied in a parking lot in West Austin.
According to local media outlets, volunteers and search parties were asked to go home hours before his death was announced.
A spokesperson for the family posted the following statement on a Facebook group dedicated to the search for Hoang:
“While this is not the outcome we had hoped for, Tanner is now in the arms of his Savior, King, Prince of Peace, Joy, and Healer. No foul play is suspected. Tanner’s family wants everyone to know how much they appreciate all the help. They feel God’s love for them through the overwhelming outpouring of support. They know Tanner was loved by so many.”
Neither authorities nor Hoang’s family have disclosed the cause of death as of Sunday but foul play is