Teen From Beijing Came To Southland In Search Of Colleges, Now The Hunt Is On For Him

CLAREMONT (CBSLA.com) —  Beiing resident Wuwei Jin, 16, came to the Southland to search  for potential colleges.

Since Friday, when Jin went missing, authorities have been searching for him.

Jin was last seen Friday near the Claremont Lodge in Claremont around 12:42 p.m. He voluntarily walked away from the hotel headed to a college library.

He arrived in Claremont on February 11. He and his mother arrived in the U.S. eight days before that.

On Sunday, KCAL9's Laurie Perez spoke to Jin's mother -- Jiping Geng -- who answered questions translated by an interpreter.

Jin doesn't have any friends or family in the area, according to his mother. She does say he is fluent in English.

Perez reported, you don't need to speak Chinese to understand  a mother's pain.

Security camera video at the Claremont Lodge shows  Jin walking in the hotel parking lot just before 1 p.m. Friday, wearing a backpack and carrying a bag.

Jin and his mom arrived in Claremont Wednesday -- she says when she went shopping Friday, he said he was going to walk to the Claremont Colleges and check out the libraries.

But while she returned later -- he never did and by 9 p.m. she was calling police.

"The issue we're running into here are there are so many unknowns it appears he walked away voluntarily, it doesn't look like there are any signs of foul play but he's been gone two days now," said Lt. Jason Walters with the Claremont Police Department.

Jin's mom says her only child is a good kid,  he's never run away and isn't upset about anything. His disappearance makes no sense.

He has cash and a credit card -- but police say the credit card has not been used.

She's been calling his cell phone -- police say it has been turned off.

Jin's mother made a plea for his return.

"Son, where are you? Can you contact me or your daddy as soon as possible and I hope anybody can help me out," Geng said.

Police said Jin did not appear on any security video from the colleges and are asking local businesses to check their tapes to see if he appears.

Perez reports that Jin's father is arriving in California Monday to help in the search.

If you have seen Jin, you're asked to call the Claremont Police Department (909) 399-5411.