Empty car found in national park belongs to missing college student, Virginia cops say
A missing Virginia college student’s car has been found abandoned in Shenandoah National Park, igniting a large-scale search of trails in the mountainous park.
Mateo Luis Cobo Zevallos, 21, was last seen May 5 when he left his home in Oakton, headed to the campus of George Mason University in Fairfax, officials say.
The distance is just under 4 miles. However, his 2020 Honda Civic was found 11 days later on Skyline Drive inside the 197,438-acre Shenandoah National Park, according to the National Park Service. The park is about 70 miles from Oakton.
The park has closed six trails as it searches for signs of Zevallos, according to a news release.
“Zevallos was reported missing to Fairfax County Police May 9 ... His vehicle was discovered in the park Tuesday, May 16,” the National Park Service reported May 19.
“Following a hasty search Tuesday evening, Shenandoah activated a full-scale search operation early Wednesday.”
That search includes representatives of about a dozen organizations, including the Virginia Rescue Dog Association and Blue and Grey Rescue Dogs, officials said.
Shenandoah National Park has 516 miles of hiking trails and search closures include some of the best known among them, including Overall Run, Traces, Mathews Arm, Tuscarora, Beecher Ridge, and Thompson Hollow. Several parking areas are now being reserved for search and rescue personnel, officials said.
Fairfax County Police report he may be “endangered due to mental and/or physical health concerns.” He is believed to have left his home carrying a North Face backpack, officials said.
The Facebook page “Looking for Mateo” notes “he’s an honor student at George Mason University.” He was expected to graduate from the university on Thursday, May 18, station WUSA9 reports.
George Mason University is “Virginia’s largest public research university” with an undergraduate enrollment of nearly 27,000 students and a campus of 817 acres, USnews.com reports.
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