University of Vermont student disappears

updated 3:13 p.m. ET Oct. 9, 2006

BURLINGTON, Vt. - Police on Monday searched for a 21-year-old University of Vermont student, whose disappearance after a night out with friends was considered suspicious and possibly an abduction.

Michele Gardner-Quinn of Arlington, Va., was last seen leaving a bar at about 2:15 a.m. Saturday and walking toward campus with a man her friends described as a “random guy,” police said.

“She’s out of place with no logical explanation for being out of place,” Burlington Police Detective Kim Edwards said Monday. “At this point, we do not believe she left on her own free will.”

Gardner-Quinn’s parents reported her missing Saturday night after she failed to show up for a planned parents weekend dinner, Edwards said.

“We have many detectives working on the case round the clock,” Edwards said. “We’re following a bunch of leads, following up to include or exclude people or vehicles.”

Police said earlier that they had spoken with the man Gardner-Quinn’s friends saw her leave with early Saturday and that he was not a suspect in her disappearance.

“She’s not the type of person who would just disappear,” said friend Tammy Lang.

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