POLICE have launched a search for a missing University of Rochester professor who failed to attend a scheduled class.

Heikki Rantakari, 44, arrived at Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport on Friday and was last seen at his Airbnb that same night.

The economics professor was scheduled to teach a class the following morning but failed to attend with authorities believing he may be in danger.

Fearing for his safety, Rantakari's family said: "Heikki Rantakari is a hard-working professor and a nice, quiet man personally.

"If anyone may have seen or spoken to him, any information from the public regarding his whereabouts is greatly needed to help find him ASAP... many are praying for his safe return."

The missing professor stands at 5 feet, 11 inches, has blonde hair, blue eyes and speaks with a Finnish accent.

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  • It is not a crime to go missing

    It is not against the law to go missing, so when a missing person report is filed, the victim cannot be arrested for it.

    The main concern of law enforcement is the person’s safety and to investigate whether they are endangered.

    When a report is filed, a law enforcement investigator will be assigned to the case and the person is entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

    Missing persons are also entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) and the Doe Network.

  • What he was wearing

    Professor Rantakari was last seen wearing dark pants, possibly jeans, a light-colored shirt, and a light-colored jacket.

     He is about 5 feet, 11 inches, has blonde hair, blue eyes, and speaks with a Finnish accent.

    He was last spotted in the 1000 block of Exchange Street, on October 20.

  • Coworker pleads for help

    A Rochester University worker has asked the public for help in finding Professor Rantakari.

    "I have never done this before, but it is important," they wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

    "This is Heikki Rantakari, he's a professor where I work.

    "He's been missing since Friday evening.

    The coworker continued: "If you have seen him or know anything about his whereabouts, contact the Rochester PD."

    "A great guy, that we are all worried about."

  • 'We need the public assistance'

    Rochester police Capt. Gregory Bello has asked for the public's help in the search for the missing professor.

    Bello told WHAM: "We need that public assistance. We need that help getting the message out so that we can confirm he's OK. Because at this point we do believe he may be in danger."

    He added: "We're asking for the public's support in reporting anything that relates to Professor Rantakari's whereabouts by calling 911," the university said in a statement. "The University is hopeful that he is found safe very soon."

  • What determines a missing person

    Missing people are those whose present location and health state are unknown, at least to the general public and their loved ones.

    A missing person’s absence has also been reported to law enforcement authorities.

    They might go missing for a number of reasons, both voluntary and involuntary, harmless or evil.

  • Missing person statistics

    According to the National Crime Information Center, there were 337,195 reports of missing persons in 2021.

    Over 90,000 reports remained active at the end of the year.

    Youth accounted for 32 percent of active missing persons records in 2021.

    In 2022, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention provided over $50million to find missing children.

  • University release statement

    Rochester University has released a statement following the disappearance of one of their professors this week.

    The University said: “We thank all local law enforcement agencies and the University of Rochester’s Department of Public Safety in supporting this investigation,” 

    “We’re asking for the public’s support in reporting anything that relates to Professor Rantakari’s whereabouts by calling 911.

    “The University is hopeful that he is found safe very soon.”

  • What to do if someone goes missing: Steps to take

    According to Hopler, Wilms, & Hanna, these are the steps you need to take if a person in your life were to go missing:

    • File a police report and provide officers with a recent photo
    • Request a “Be On the LookOut” (BOLO) Bulletin to be put out by law enforcement
    • Ask for an organized search with tracking dogs 
    • Limit access to your home until law enforcement arrives and collects evidence.
    • Give investigators all facts and circumstances related to disappearance and let law enforcement know what efforts have already been made.
    • Supply to law enforcement a detailed description with photo when applicable of clothing, personal belongings, birthmarks, scars, tattoos, and mannerisms
    • Designate one person to answer a home phone if you have one. Always keep paper to take notes and ask law enforcement for a tracer on your home phone.
    • For cases that are older than 30 days, help officers locate dental and medical records.
    • If you have friends who are good with technology, ask them to help locate the missing person’s cell phone, car GPS, or computer location. If a pet is with them who has a locator, try to use that info to find the person.

  • What police look for

    When someone is reported missing, officers will need some details to assist them in their search.

    This includes:

    • Personal details about the missing person such as their full name, date of birth, home address and employment details
    • Further detail about their disappearance including when you last had contact with them, what they were wearing when they disappeared and possible reasons behind their disappearance
    • Any factors which could put the person at risk
    • Police may also ask for personal items belonging to the missing person, their mobile phone for example or laptop. Cops may also want to visit their house to carry out a search

  • Possible reasons a person may go missing

    The World Population Review shared a list of reasons why a person might go missing:

    • Kidnapping (child abduction, ransom, human trafficking, political targets)
    • Forced disappearance (due to corrupt governmental agents or criminal activity)
    • Missing in action (during military service or in countries undergoing insurrections or civil unrest)
    • Voluntary disappearance (juvenile runaways, avoid debt, avoid law enforcement or criminal elements)
    • Involuntary disappearance (dementia or other age-related incapacities, mental disability, accident while alone and away from home)

  • Police say the professor could be 'in danger'

    Rochester police Capt. Gregory Bello has claimed that the professor could be "in danger".

    He said: "Beyond the obvious circumstances that just poof, this guy has disappeared, there’s been some other information that indicates this guy may be in danger as well."

    Speaking to Fox News Digital Bello added: "The odd part is this guy disappeared – my understanding that I have on it is that's very out of character."

    "He's got a family back in Boston, and obviously they're concerned about him as well, and that's what were trying to resolve here and figure out what happened," Bello told 13Wham. 

  • Police issue appeal

    Rochester police have issued an appeal for help to the public after Heikki Rantakari went missing.

    The appeal states: "He was last seen on Friday in the 1000 block of Exchange St.

    "We believe that he may be in danger and anyone with information is encouraged to call 911."

    We are seeking the public's help in locating 44-year old Heikki Rantakari. He was last seen on Friday in the 1000 block of Exchange St. We believe that he may be in danger and anyone with information is encouraged to call 911.

    — Rochester NY Police (@RochesterNYPD) October 24, 2023

  • What has Heikki's family said?

    The University of Rochester economics professor could be in danger after failing to show up to his scheduled class.

    "Heikki Rantakari is a hard-working professor and a nice, quiet man personally," the family wrote.

    They added: "If anyone may have seen or spoken to him, any information from the public regarding his whereabouts is greatly needed to help find him ASAP... many are praying for his safe return."

  • Who to contact if you have information?

    Anyone with information surrounding Heikki's disappearance is urged to call 911 or the Rochester Police Department's Major Crimes unit at (585) 428-7157.

  • What does Heikki Rantakari look like?

    Heikki Rantakari stands at 5 feet, 11 inches, has blonde hair, blue eyes and speaks with a Finnish accent.

    Anyone with information regarding the professor is urged to call 911 or the Rochester Police Department's Major Crimes unit at (585) 428-7157.

  • Police launch search for missing professor who 'may be in danger'

    Police have launched a search for missing University of Rochester professor Heikki Rantakari.

    The Finnish economics professor was last seen at his Airbnb on Friday night.

    Concern began to grow after he failed to attend a lecture scheduled for the following morning.