20 Year Old University of Chicago Student Austin Hudson – LaPore Missing Since June 12, 2013 in Chicago, IL (Update: Body Found in Lake Michigan)

20 year old, University of Chicago student, Austin Hudson-LaPore has been missing since Wednesday, June 12, 2013 in Chicago, Il. According to reports, Austin Hudson-LaPore was last seen in the 5300 block of South Kimbark Avenue after leaving his apartment between 8.30 and 10pm Wednesday night without his wallet or cell phone. It is believed that he went out because of his fascination of weather to watch the strong storms that passed through the area Wednesday night. On Friday, Austin Hudson’s loved ones appealed to the public for help in finding Austin.

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Pic – Find Austin Hudson

At a press conference Friday, the missing student’s father, Gregg LaPore, said that his son is fascinated by weather, which may have been the reason why he decided to go out Wednesday night, the Chicago Tribune reported.

A powerful storm system passed through the Midwest on June 12, bringing torrential rains, gusty winds, hail and lightning to the area.

A missing persons report describes Hudson-LaPore as weighing 110lbs and standing at 5 feet 7 inches, with blond hair, blue eyes and a fair complexion. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and black sneakers.

Austin’s family has also launched a website called FindAustinHudson.com, as well as a Tumblr account by the same name, containing photos of the 20-year-old and additional information about him.

On the site, Austin’s family wrote that that the student returned to his apartment at around 12.30pm Wednesday after finishing his final exam and stayed there until the early evening, browsing sport scores online.

At some point between 8.30pm and 10pm, Hudson-LaPore left his apartment, which he shares with a roommate, with only his keys on hand.

Find Austin Hudson

UPDATE I: Rising fourth-year reported missing as of Friday.

During a press conference outside of Rockefeller Chapel at 8:30 p.m. Friday evening, Greg Lapore, Austin Hudson-Lapore’s father, spoke briefly about his son, urging anyone with information to contact the Chicago Police Department.

On Wednesday evening between 8:30 and 10:00 p.m., Austin left his apartment to walk along 53rd Street or 55th Street and has not been seen since, Greg Lapore said during the conference. The family believes that Austin was walking towards Lake Michigan and that something went wrong during that trek.

As for questions about why Austin would leave his wallet and cell phone behind, Greg Lapore said that his son has always had a fascination with weather. “He’s a very outdoorsy guy, and wouldn’t think anything of going for a walk in a driving rainstorm [without his wallet or cell phone], if he got to see something really exciting,” he said.

If anyone has any information with regards to the whereabouts of missing Austin Hudson, please contact the Chicago Police Department Area Central Detective Division at 312-747-8380.

UPDATE II: The body of missing Austin Hudson-LaPore was found today in Lake Michigan.

CBS 2’s Kris Habermehl reports, around 6:50 a.m., Chicago Police Marine Unit divers pulled a body from Lake Michigan near Oakwood Boulevard. A fisherman spotted the body in the lake and called police around 6:30 a.m.

After the body was recovered, it was taken to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, where authorities confirmed the victim was 20-year-old Austin Hudson-Lapore, who went missing on June 12.

It’s not clear if he fell in the water by accident, or if something else occurred. Autopsy results were not immediately available Wednesday afternoon.