Elizabeth City, N.C. - A body found floating in an Elizabeth City canal has the family of a missing Elizabeth City State University student in fear.
"My mind is still racing because we have to wait," says Ken’erica Bell, the cousin of ECSU senior 22-year-old Terry Leathers.
Leathers was last seen Thursday night outside his dorm. Tuesday morning, Leathers' backpack and clothes were found three miles away near the Pelican Point Canal--a few yards from where a man's body was found in the water.
"I don't want to believe that it's his body, but from his clothes being right there and then coincidentally a body washing up," Bell says.
The body has not been positively ID'ed, but Leathers' mother tells NewsChannel 3 she believes it's her son.
Bell says there are still so many questions surrounding her cousin's disappearance. She says Leathers’ phone was left in his dorm room.
"I could never imagine him just getting up and just walking away from everything, and that's what's hard because it doesn't add up," Bell says.
A man of God and disciplined student, Bell says Leathers had a lot of friends and so much to live for. "He always had his Bible,” she says. “He could be coming from class, going to get something to eat, or in the library. He had his Bible. He always had his Bible."
Elizabeth City Police and ECSU Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Leathers' disappearance.
If you have any information, contact the Elizabeth City State University Police at 252-335-3266.
