Campus Alert Archive
JSU

A 3 A.M. Drive North on Highway 431, and a Week-Long Search Ending in New York

ALmissing personmissing studentmedium confidence

Jacksonville State University police received a report on September 2, 2025, that student James Nichols of Ohatchee, Alabama, had not been seen since the early-morning hours of August 28. He was believed to have left campus around 3 a.m. driving north, and his car was later recorded in Pawling, New York. On September 5, the university confirmed he had been found safe and had spoken with his family.

Alerts
2
Response
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Killed
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Injured
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Institution
Jacksonville State University
Public Masters · AL
Gamecock Alert
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction283 chars
Jacksonville State University Police are seeking the public's help in locating student James Nichols, of Ohatchee, who has not been seen since the early morning of Aug. 28. He may be traveling in his vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact University Police immediately.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstruction based on reporting that University Police received the report Sept. 2, 2025, that Nichols had not been seen since the early morning of Aug. 28.
Classified under the HEOA missing-student framework (cleryCategory 'missing-student'), the separate legal track for missing residential students.
Investigators said his car was recorded traveling north on Highway 431 in Glencoe around 3 a.m. on Aug. 28 and later appeared in Pawling, New York on Aug. 29.
ALL CLEAREmail
Approximate reconstruction146 chars
UPDATE: James Nichols has been found safe and has spoken with his family. Thank you to everyone who shared information and assisted in the search.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstruction of the resolution; the university confirmed Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, that Nichols had been found safe in New York.
A genuine all-clear: it confirms the student was located safe and closes the search.
Context

Background

This case demonstrates the HEOA missing-student notification framework in action at a regional Alabama university (not to be confused with Mississippi's Jackson State). According to CBS42 and WBRC, University Police received a report on September 2, 2025, that James Nichols of Ohatchee had not been seen since the early morning of August 28, when his car was recorded heading north on Highway 431 in Glencoe around 3 a.m. ABC News reported the vehicle was later spotted in Pawling, New York, and that the university confirmed on September 5 that Nichols had been found safe and had spoken with his family. The week-long, multi-state search shows how campus missing-student alerts often resolve far from campus.
Outcome
Nichols was located safe in New York and reconnected with his family. No foul play was reported.
Provenance

Sources

  1. News
    Missing JSU student found safe in New York - CBS42
    cbs42.com
  2. News
    Missing Jacksonville State student found safe in New York - WBRC
    wbrc.com
  3. News
    Jacksonville State University student missing for over a week found safe in New York - ABC News
    abcnews.com
Tags
missing-personmissing-studentendangered-personheoaalabamajacksonville
Added May 2026Updated May 2026Via ingestion