Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 7, 1994 TAG: 9402070006
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Short
Stephen Alexander phoned his parents in St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday afternoon.
In a 20-second conversation, Alexander told his mother he was in Arizona, had done a lot of thinking, and was coming home, said his father, Norman Alexander.
"My son called. Praise the Lord," Norman Alexander told a reporter about 10 minutes after his son called.
Because the conversation was short, Norman Alexander doesn't know why his son left Blacksburg without telling anyone his plans.
Stephen Alexander, who is studying materials and ceramics engineering, was last seen in Blacksburg by a fellow graduate student who had lunch with him.
His father said Stephen Alexander withdrew $1,000 from his checking account and left most of his personal belongings behind.
His son also left behind an important weapon-research project that has an April deadline.
Norman Alexander came to Blacksburg on Thursday to search for clues to his son's disappearance.
He talked to police and newspaper and television reporters. He papered the university community with fliers asking for information.
Saturday, he drove back to Florida without any real answers. But the phone call Sunday was all Norman Alexander needed.
Alexander said his son said: "Hello, Mom. I'm coming home. I've done a lot of thinking."
by CNB