Missing Northwestern University student's body found in harbor

Harsha Maddula, 18, was last seen leaving the party at about 12:30 a.m. Saturday, the university said in a statement. (MYFOXDC.COM)

EVANSTON, Ill. – The body of a Northwestern University student who was last seen leaving a weekend party has been found in a harbor near the school's suburban Chicago campus.

Authorities say the body of 18-year-old sophomore Harsha Maddula was pulled late Thursday from a harbor in Wilmette, a town north of Evanston. The harbor is about two miles north of Maddula's residence hall.

Prasad Maddula, Harsah's father had believed someone had kidnapped his son, but Northwestern spokesman Alan Cubbage says Maddula's wallet was found on his body, which showed no signs of foul play.

The pre-med engineering student was last seen after midnight on Saturday. A relative says he went to the party with several friends and disappeared after he and several others left for another party.

Maddula's cell phone showed that the closest cell phone tower to the last signal received from his phone was near the school, MyFoxChicago.com reported.

Maddula did not appear intoxicated to partygoers who spoke with him that night.

His parents and other relatives arrived in Evanston on Monday from Long Island, N.Y. to help with the search. The family was offering a $25,000 reward for any information that would lead to the whereabouts of their son. They said it was simply out of character for him to disappear and not contact anyone.

Hundreds of Northwestern University students had turned out to help search for him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.