Victor Wembanyama Call Helps Bring Missing Elijah Hoard Home After O’Hare Disappearance
victor wembanyama publicly urged people to help find 23-year-old Elijah Hoard after Hoard disappeared at Chicago O’Hare International Airport last week. Chicago police said Tuesday night (ET) that Hoard was found safe and has been reunited with his family. Authorities have not released details on how he was located, but the family’s alarm centered on the fact that Hoard never boarded a scheduled flight back to France.
What happened at O’Hare, and what police confirmed Tuesday night
Chicago police said Tuesday night (ET) that Elijah Joseph Hoard was located and is safe, and that he is back with his family. Police did not immediately provide additional details on where he was found or the circumstances leading to his recovery.
Hoard had been reported missing after he was last seen at O’Hare. His family said he had been visiting Chicago and was scheduled to return to France, but never got on his flight. Antwon Hoard, Elijah’s father, said his son did not check in for the flight and that his bags were not registered.
Surveillance footage referenced by authorities indicated Hoard was last seen Feb. 27 after going through security and later leaving Terminal 5. Family members said he had been waiting at his departure gate before leaving the terminal area.
Victor Wembanyama posted a public plea as concern intensified
victor wembanyama posted an Instagram story on Monday, March 2 (ET), calling for help finding Hoard and asking anyone with information to contact local authorities in Chicago. In that message, Wembanyama wrote that Hoard had been missing from Chicago O’Hare since February 27.
In the same push to widen attention, Wembanyama tagged public figures, including Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Connor Bedard, in an apparent effort to amplify the plea and reach more people quickly.
Immediate reactions from family and officials
Antwon Hoard said the family’s last confirmed contact window narrowed quickly once Elijah disappeared. He said Elijah’s phone had been off since Friday evening (ET) and that he did not have much money to be on his own for more than a few days.
Antwon Hoard also described a shift in Elijah’s mood near the end of his Chicago visit, saying he became adamant about not returning home to France. Family members and police indicated Hoard may have needed medical attention. Anaia Hoard, Elijah’s sister, said her brother suffers from schizophrenia and cannot go without his medication. “If he doesn’t take his medication, I fear he may get too low and that might be a scary place for him to be, ” Anaia Hoard said, adding that the family was waiting to hear from police before drawing conclusions.
Chicago police, in their public statements, confirmed only that Hoard was found safe and reunited with family, and said further details have not been released.
Quick context on the missing-person alert
Hoard was reported missing in Chicago after he failed to board a return flight to France, prompting a Missing Persons Alert that said he may be in need of medical attention. Police descriptions circulated during the search included his clothing at the time he was last seen: a brown hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and cream-colored shoes.
What’s next after Elijah Hoard is found
Chicago police have not said Tuesday night (ET) whether they will release a timeline of how Elijah Hoard was located or clarify what happened between his last known sighting at O’Hare and his reunion with family. For now, the central update is clear: Hoard is safe, and the case that victor wembanyama amplified publicly has ended with his missing friend back with loved ones.
