An exchange student China who was reported missing last week in Utah was found in what authorities said was an apparent plot “cyber kidnapping” to extort $80,000 from the student’s family.
The 17-year-old student was reported missing on Friday, a day after he was last seen at the house where he was staying in Riverdaleabout 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Salt Lake City.
Riverdale Police initially said they believed the student had been forcibly removed from his home. But on Sunday night they said they found him safe in a tent about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Riverdale in the area of Brigham City.
According to police, he was convinced that his family in China was threatened and that he needed to isolate himself. It is not clear how he received this information or why he isolated himself.
Meanwhile, his family had received a ransom note and a photograph of the student that made it appear that he had been kidnapped and was in danger. The family paid $80,000 in ransom before he was found.