21 Year Old American Bates College Student John Durkin from Rye Beach, NH Studying Abroad Missing Since 2/19/14 in Rome, Italy (Update: Found Dead in Italy Railroad Tunnel)

21 year old John Durkin of  Rye Beach, NH, an American student from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine has gone missing while studying abroad in Rome, Italy. Friends traveling with the group said Durkin has not been seen since February 19., 2014. They said he went out to a bar and never returned.  The students left for Rome in January through a program at Trinity College, which has a campus in Rome. John Durkin went missing from Sloppy Sam’s. This was the last place that John Durkin was seen.

John Durkin … Missing in Rome, Italy

An American student studying abroad in Italy is missing, his college said.

John Durkin is an economics major from Rye Beach, New Hampshire. He attends Bates College in Maine, but was taking part in a study abroad program in Rome through Trinity College in Connecticut.

He’s been in Rome for a little more than a month as part of a semester-long program, according to Tom Durkin, a family spokesman.

Two days ago, he went to a bar with a group of friends and never returned, according to the spokesman, who said he left the bar alone.

via Twitter

Statement from Bates College:

Staff from Trinity College are working with the Italian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

This situation is deeply distressing for John’s family, his fellow students and the entire Bates community. We are working actively with Trinity College to monitor events as they evolve, and we will share information as it becomes available.

The family is asking anyone around the world with information to contact them via Twitter via their newly-established account @JDurkinMissing.

UPDATE I: Missing 21 Year Old John Durkin Found Dead Saturday in Railroad Tunnel in Rome, Italy.

21 year old John Durkin was was deceased in Rome, Italy Saturday.  His body was found dead inside a railroad tunnel in central Rome. According to accounts, John Durkin had been hit by a train; however, investigators are still looking into the death of the Bates college student.

A Bates College student who went missing two days ago while traveling in Italy has been found dead, authorities said Saturday.

The body of 21-year-old John Durkin, of Rye Beach, N.H., was discovered in a railroad tunnel in Rome, authorities said. CNN reported that Rome railroad police said he had been hit by a train.

The State Department confirmed the find but did not release details about the circumstances of the death, citing “respect for the family at this difficult time.”

VIDEO – CNN

Statement from Family:

“It is with much sadness that the Durkin family informs you of the loss of John Nolen Durkin and thanks everyone for their support during the past few days.”

Statement from Bates said President Clayton Spencer:

“This is a time of deep sadness for our community and for so many people who knew and loved John.  We are profoundly sad and share the tremendous grief of his family.”