Missing Utah college student found alive in man’s basement, naked and covered in coal
12/20/2021 2:25 pm PST
EPHRAIM, Utah (TCD) -- A 39-year-old man was taken into custody over the weekend after a missing college student was reportedly found in his basement covered in coal.
Snow College officials announced Sunday that 19-year-old Madelyn Allen was found alive following a days-long search for her. Brent Brown was taken into custody, but officials did not share many details about how the two knew each other, citing the ongoing investigation. The Salt Lake Tribune reports Brown was arrested for rape, obstruction of justice, aggravated kidnapping, and object rape. He has not yet been formally charged.
Allen was last seen on video surveillance footage leaving her dorm on Dec. 13 at 9:22 p.m. The school’s Public Safety office worked with local and state officials in their search for her. On Dec. 17, Snow College Public Safety said they had reason to believe Allen traveled out of Ephraim, but she does not have her driver’s license or a car.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune citing an affidavit, Allen and Brown met online in a "chat group." They reportedly planned to meet on Dec. 13, but she did not return the next day, so her roommates reported her missing.
Brown reportedly took Allen to his home in Loa and threatened her. He allegedly tied Allen up when he went to work and threw away her phone when he learned police were searching for her.
KTVX-TV reports officers went to Brown’s residence and noticed a person through the basement window matching Allen’s description. Brown would not let officers into his residence for a search, but officials later obtained permission to enter. Investigators reportedly found a gun and some of Allen’s clothing in a suitcase.
Allen was eventually located in the home’s coal room, naked and covered in coal, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Brown's residence is reportedly about 90 miles away from her school.
The Salt Lake Tribune reports Madelyn’s father, Jonathan Allen, said he and his family "dropped to our knees" when they found out she was alive.
Madelyn’s uncle Jacob Allen said, "The ordeal that she has been through is dangerous and traumatic, the details of which we have only begun to understand. She is a fighter. She is now a survivor. We are grateful she is with us again so she can now recover."
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