Body Found Matching Description Of Missing NDSU Student

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The search for a missing North Dakota State University freshman appears to be over.

Police announced Tuesday afternoon that a search party in Moorhead found a body matching the description of 18-year-old Tom Bearson of Sartell, Minn.

The body was found in an RV sales and service lot in south Moorhead near a Menard's store at 11:20 a.m.

Bearson was last seen leaving a friend's house early Saturday morning near the university's Fargo campus. The evening prior, Bearson had sent out a Tweet saying that he was lost.

Police are releasing few details on the investigation, but they say it remains active.

"I would ask the community to reserve any judgment or not draw any conclusions until the investigation into this matter has been completed," said Chief Keith Ternes of Fargo police.

Officials would not say what led them to look for Bearson in Moorhead, which is across the border from Fargo.

They say it could be several weeks before they can release an exact cause of death.

"That will be a issue that the authorities over in Moorhead and the Minnesota [Bureau of Criminal Apprehension] will have to examine," Ternes said.

Authorities are avoiding talking about foul play.

A prayer vigil for Bearson was slated for Tuesday night at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sartell.