Missing Southern Illinois University Student Found Dead in Wooded Area

Police have found the body of a missing Southern Illinois University student who is from the Chicago area.

Carbondale police said that they found the body of 19-year-old Pravin Varughese about 9:45 a.m. in a wooded area. He was last seen Wednesday night and his family was offering a $15,000 reward. The sophomore was studying criminal justice.

Police say they had few leads in the case but received a tip Monday night. Authorities say it appears Varughese accepted a ride Wednesday night with an acquaintance but they're not sure what happened next.

An autopsy is pending, but police say Varughese may have succumbed to cold.

As many as 200 friends, family and church members traveled to Carbondale to search for him. He was from Morton Grove.