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Police Search Icy Lake Ontario For Missing Student, 21, From Fairfield

FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Police were searching the icy waters of Lake Ontario on Thursday after the disappearance of a 21-year-old Rochester Institute Of Technology student from Fairfield. 

Max Maisel

Max Maisel

Photo Credit: Rochester Institute of Technology

Max Maisel, son of ESPN senior writer Ivan Maisel, was last seen Sunday evening leaving the Perkins Green apartment complex on the upsate New York campus. He is a third-year professional photographic illustration student at RIT.  

His car was found Monday near the Charlotte Pier at Lake Ontario on the New York/Canadian border.

"The Rochester Police SCUBA is working in conjunction with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office SCUBA in relation to the missing person investigation of Max Maisel," the Rochester Police Department said in a statement released via WROC News 8.

"The teams are utilizing underwater sonar and a remotely operated underwater vehicle to assist with this matter. This is a slow and meticulous process that will take some time. 

"We will update you in regards to any changes in this investigation as soon as possible," the police statement said.. "Please keep Max Maisel and his family in your thoughts and prayers."   

WHAM-TV is also reporting that police responded Sunday night to a call about someone walking on the pier. Officers did not find anyone but later located Maisel's car parked nearby, WHAM said.

“We would like to thank the law enforcement personnel from the City of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology who have worked with us in the search for Max," said a statement from the Maisel family.

"We know they are doing everything they can to locate Max. We are heartbroken. At this point we still have more questions than answers. We are asking for the public, including the RIT college community, to help us as we continue our search for Max and try to reconstruct where he has been and when.

"Max was a photographer and was last seen in the vicinity of Charlotte Beach, an area that he had visited for many years. He felt very comfortable there. 

"It is an area that sees many other visitors, year-round, including birders with cameras. We ask that anyone who believes they may have recently seen someone matching Max's description report that to the police by calling 911.”

Anyone with information as to Max Maisel’s whereabouts is asked to contact Rochester Police Department Investigator Kevin Wehbring at 585-428-6293.

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