Search continues for former U-M student Brice Moss
Ann Arbor police continue to search for missing former University of Michigan student Brice Moss but said there’s very little new information to report on his whereabouts.
Brice Moss
Courtesy of Facebook
He was last seen at 2:40 a.m. Saturday by one of his roommates and was reported missing by his mother after not showing up for the U-M graduation ceremony, police said.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said Tuesday police are actively investigating the case and looking into all potential leads.
“We’re hopeful that someone will have contact with him or he will contact his family,” she said.
While Moss's mother expected him to graduate Saturday, university officials said Tuesday he hasn’t been a student at U-M for quite some time.
U-M spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said Tuesday Moss was a student at the university from the summer of 2008 until April 2011, but has not been enrolled for more than a year.
“We don’t know much else about his situation, but we can confirm from records that was the time frame that he was a student,” Fitzgerald said.
The investigation into Moss's disappearance is a police case and university officials are supporting the investigation, Fitzgerald said.
Moss's car was last seen at 12:30 a.m. Sunday on Ann Street near a friend’s house, after he was reported missing, Bush said. He drives a tan 1999 Lincoln Town Car.
According to Bush, it’s possible that Moss originally left Ann Arbor to visit friends at other schools. It’s known that Moss had friends at Tulane University, Michigan State University, Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University, Bush said.
The investigation has been discussed on Facebook and Twitter, with friends and family hoping to get the word out regarding Moss's disappearance. A Facebook page titled “Help Find Our Friend Brice Moss” had more than 1,320 likes as of 9:20 a.m. Tuesday.
Bush encouraged the community to keep taking action on social media platforms and to keep their eyes and ears open in the coming days for any sign of Moss. She said these are the types of cases in which police need the most help from the community.
“The police department appreciates people keeping an eye out for his vehicle and for assisting and attempting to locate him,” Bush said. “This is where our community can help us out.”
Anyone with information on Moss's whereabouts or anyone who might have information pertinent to the case is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor Police Department anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or 911 if in the city of Ann Arbor.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
NoncomposTmentis
Fri, May 4, 2012 : 6:04 a.m.
I don't know if Mom was paying for what was supposed to be college all that time she thought he was enrolled, but my guess is she was. So the kid was getting a bunch of cash for doing......whatever it is he did all that time. He took the lie all the way up to "I'm graduating". WOW!! I might disappear rather than face the wrath of THAT enormous lie and double life too! Crazy. At least it's pretty clear he's just hiding now so that's cool.. He's probably already assumed a new identity and escaped to another country, or maybe I just watch too much Investigation Discovery.,
UlyssesWrong1
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 11:19 a.m.
Hope the kid's alright, his whereabouts are still unknown, this is not something to poke fun at, though I'd assume he's OK somewhere. It also makes you wonder if word has got to him that he's being searched for by now. You'd think he would know by now and have contacted someone.
grimmk
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 3:53 a.m.
I hope he's just doing some soul searching and turns up at home soon. School is hard and the pressure to strive in it is equally so. I wanted to give up lots of times and thought for sure I'd fail. And sometimes I did. And that's ok. I got through it. I hope Brice Moss and his family do too. Have the family called the neighbors at home (parent's home) to see if he is around there? Maybe he did just go home and is waiting for the family to come back.
Evran
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 9:48 p.m.
Shame on any of you who are being so judgmental and callous! You have no idea what this young man and his family are going through! You do not need to add further to their suffering by bringing more anguish and humiliation to them through your high and mighty judgment. Yes, Brice made a mistake, but think of what a bad place he must have been in to go to these lengths to hide all of this. All we can do is hope that Brice is found safe and that he did not harm himself out of shame. Your lack of compassion and empathy makes me sick. Truly disgusting. - Friend of Brice
Evran
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 4:46 p.m.
@DBH thank you for the rational and neutral comment. Wish more people could do this.
DBH
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
OK, Evran, thanks for the clarification. I, too, am disappointed in the tenor of the comments on this story but, unfortunately, such negativity is all too common on this website. I don't think, though, AnnArbor.com is the exception as negative comments seem to outnumber neutral or positive comments by a ratio of 4:1 or more on all the websites I have seen. I see from the most recent story on AnnArbor.com that the police continue to investigate and they apparently have no definite news. I should point out that, while Brice's situation is unique (as is everyone's), similar absences of others almost always have turned out to have favorable outcomes. Here's to hoping the same for Brice.
Evran
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
I just made this account less than 24 hours ago and I decided to change my name to keep anonymity. I didn't realize that was such a faux pas since I am not someone who frequents comment boards... oops! I only made this account to defend my friend Brice from negative remarks saying that he should be punished etc. The reason I made my original comment was because I wanted people to focus on finding Brice and not all the negative practically irrelevant information about him. It's one thing to speculate constructively, it's another thing completely to pass harsh judgement on my friend for the mistakes he made when he isn't here to defend himself. I just want him to be found safe and sound. I am really really worried about him and so are our other friends and his family. I can't believe that there are so many petty people that feel the need to attack me for sticking up for my friend. Nit-picking my statement, and being argumentative for the sake of being argumentative. I had a bigger purpose for making my original comment than winning some internet fight or personally attacking a specific person like you have done to me. This is why I don't frequent these places. There are so many haters and I have better things to do. I really don't understand these people? Shaking my head. .... Wow. :(
DBH
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 2:21 p.m.
No one on this site knows what has happened to this young man. In my opinion, attempts at humorous speculation as to the circumstances of his disappearance are tasteless, at least. And, by the way, who is Evran? What happened to Sylvie?
Evran
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 1:27 p.m.
@Kai You say that Tesla is courageous for attacking a friend of the missing person who is trying to defend that person from criticism including "there should be more than a slap on the wrist" etc.. I have a lot of words for that, but courageous is not one of them. There is a big difference between bashing my friend for his choices and discussing the case from different angles. Figure it out. @A2Kim Really? Because I AM his friend and I said it. And that is how I feel and that is what I am really worried about and so are all of our other friends and his family. That is what friend's do, they worry about their friend if they might be in trouble. Don't you dare tell me how I should and should not feel about this. Criticizing me for being worried about my friend. Now that's callous. Wow.
A2Kim
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 2:37 a.m.
Sylvie: "All we can do is hope that Brice is found safe and that he did not harm himself out of shame. Your lack of compassion and empathy makes me sick. Truly disgusting. - Friend of Brice" A FRIEND would not write something so callous for FAMILY and FRIENDS to read.
Kai Petainen
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 2:30 a.m.
Tesla had the courage to ask the question. I don't know him (or her), but his intentions weren't meant to be mean. This topic came up as a news story, and as a result people will comment and ask the hard questions that sometimes the news is afraid to ask (or hadn't addressed yet). Unfortunately, all of this will be painful to family and friends. My best wishes (and if accepted, prayers as well) to him, his family and his friends.
Tesla
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 12:51 a.m.
At the risk of sounding judgmental, I think you're being a little thin skinned and the comments and moderation of the posts are sound. I hope they find the young man safe and sound. I'm done.
Tesla
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 11:43 p.m.
Excuse me but just to keep it real here, no one is "Bashing" anyone and many well wishes have been posted. A healthy dose of skepticism and free thinking isn't a bad thing. *shrugs*
ummsw
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 9:55 p.m.
Could not have said it better..Thank you
Tesla
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 8:30 p.m.
I knew it. I asked yesterday if the University had confirmed if he was even a graduating student or not and that maybe his mother has been deceived.... Well before it started showing up on facebook or wherever else. Sachmo Tesla toots his own horn!
Tesla
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 11:15 p.m.
Thanks!
Arbuckle
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 8:43 p.m.
Tesla - Nice job trusting your instinct. You definitely called that one, I remember your post from before. I also figured something was off after reading the previous article. I know it sounds cynical but sometimes you have to doubt the story to investigate every angle, that's what the detectives do.
djacks24
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 5:10 p.m.
If the story is unfolding how it is written, lying to your mother is one thing. Going missing and getting several other people and the authorities involved because you are afraid to face the consequences of your decisions is another. If he is found safe and sound there should be more than just a slap in the hand issued for disappearing.
seldon
Wed, May 2, 2012 : 12:25 p.m.
It isn't illegal for an adult to disappear.
kraiford12
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 6:10 p.m.
Well, he's an adult. You're allowed to go anywhere (that you're legally allowed to be) without needing to inform your parents or local authorities. This happens more than you may think. Only reason it's becoming "big news" is the coverage by AA.com. I'm not implying the coverage isn't warranted, just saying people up-and-go places all the time w/o telling others. A.) (assuming the disappearance was of his own doing) What he did isn't illegal. B.) Law enforcement's involvement does not turn his legal action into an illegal one nor does it require him contacting the authorities/his mother/anyone else.
a2xarob
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.
What a sad shock for his mom. I hope he is found safe and sound, and that his mom is doing okay. My heart goes out to her. Brice, call your mom!!
Halter
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 3:22 p.m.
Well this fills in a few more pieces of the puzzle...while still leaving something hanging...Hope he is found safe and sound, but there's still something missing here....
Mac
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
Oh oh! Hopefully this story is just about a kid who is ashamed and cant face his mother!
LaMusica
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
Hmm...this story has taken a turn...I was worried when the first story came out that he had an accident or something...but now it sounds like he might have disappeared to avoid having to tell his family he hasn't been enrolled at the university. I still hope he's OK and realizes his family just wants to know he is safe!
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 2:05 p.m.
I remember a story in the old Ann Arbor News, or maybe the Observer of an Asian student (Chinese I believe) who flunked out and was so ashamed he hid out in the attic of a Church for 2 years, coming out late at night to find food. This story goes back to the early part of the 20th century if memory serves.
Jeff Renner
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 3:41 p.m.
I've been thinking the same thing. There are a few more details at http://books.google.com/books?id=3WVMR8RORkIC&lpg=PA113&ots=eDq3D3y7H9&dq=cheng%20lim%20singapore%20%22ann%20arbor%22&pg=PA113#v=onepage&q=cheng%20lim%20singapore%20%22ann%20arbor%22&f=false
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 3:32 p.m.
thanks earthchick, I knew I read something, I was just off by several decades and how long he stowed away. I guess the old memory isn't what it used to be...;)
earthchick
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 2:58 p.m.
That's right! I read about that just recently, in "True Crimes and the History of the Ann Arbor Police Department" by Michael Logghe. It was in the late 1950s, and the student, Cheng Lim, from Singapore, actually hid for *four* years in the attic of First United Methodist Church. You can read the story here: http://aapd.aadl.org/aapd/truecrimes/5-5
Craig Lounsbury
Tue, May 1, 2012 : 2:02 p.m.
"While Moss's mother expected him to graduate Saturday, university officials said Tuesday he hasn't been a student at U-M for quite some time." hmmmm. That could explain his status at the moment.