– Tom Bearson laid to rest

SARTELL, Minn. (AP) – The North Dakota State University student found slain in Moorhead has been laid to rest as authorities search for his killer.

     About 1,250 mourners attended a funeral Mass for 18-year-old Thomas Bearson on Monday morning at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in his hometown of Sartell.

     The St. Cloud Times reports family and friends remembered Bearson’s humor, caring personality and love for athletics.

     Bearson’s body was found Tuesday outside a recreational vehicle store in Moorhead. The Ramsey County medical examiner’s office says Bearson died as the “result of homicidal violence.”

     Police say Bearson had last been seen at a party early on Sept. 20 in Fargo, North Dakota, about six blocks from his dorm. NDSU officials are encouraging students to walk with others on and off campus at night.

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) – A coroner in Minnesota has ruled as a homicide the death of the North Dakota State University student whose body was found this week.

     The Ramsey County medical examiner’s office on Thursday determined that 18-year-old Thomas Bearson, of Sartell, Minnesota, died as the “result of homicidal violence.”

     Bearson’s remains were found Tuesday outside a recreational vehicle store in south Moorhead. He was last seen at a party Saturday in Fargo.

     Police in Moorhead are asking for the public’s help to locate Bearson’s cellphone and a shoe. Police described the missing items as a white Nike Air Jordan left tennis shoe size 9 1/2 and a silver iPhone 5.

     People with information are asked to call the Red River Regional Dispatch Center at 701-451-7660.

Previously….

A body found this morning about 11:30 in Moorhead, Mn., is that of missing NDSU student, Thomas Bearson. The body, found in a nonresidential area. The ID was confirmed on Tuesday evening

Fargo Police Chief Keith Ternes says the physical description of the body matches that of Thomas Bearson.

The body was clothed in the descrption of what Bearson was wearing when he was last seen this past Saturday morning.

The information was released during a news conference by Fargo Police, on Tuesday afternoon.

A death investigation will now be done in Minnesota to confirm the person’s identity.

Authorities have secured a crime scene in south Moorhead, in the area of Sam’s Club and Menards. A Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) agent was on scene Tuesday afternoon, and authorities were awaiting the BCA mobile crime lab to arrive to continue their investigation.

An autopsy will be conducted in Minnesota’s Ramsey’s County as to the cause of his death.

Police, search dogs and firefighters spent much of Monday searching for the freshman, including a cursory search of the Red River.

Previously….

Fargo (AP WDAY News) Police in Fargo have expanded a search for an 18-year-old North Dakota State University freshman who has been missing since early Saturday morning.

The Fargo school says freshman Tom Bearson, of Sartell, Minnesota, hasn’t been seen since leaving a party about 3 a.m. Saturday. He lives in a residence hall on campus. Bearson is a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, with blonde to brown hair and blue eyes.
NDSU Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Alvarez says the school is asking
for the public’s help in finding him now.
Anyone with information is asked to call NDSU police at 701-231-8998 or text a tip to 701-526-6006

Police dogs, officers and firefighters Monday afternoon began “methodical” grid-style search that area toward campus, where Bearson, a nursing student, lived in Reid Hall dormitory.

The area where Bearson was last seen is about six blocks south of his dorm. It was searched previously, but Monday’s afternoon canvassing is more detailed.

Firefighters also began a cursory search of the Red River on Monday afternoon, though there’s no indication connecting Bearson to the river – which is more than a mile to the east of campus.