A high school foreign exchange student from China has been declared missing in Utah, as his parents in China received a ransom note and a photo of their son, according to police. The student, Kai Zhuang, 17, resides in Riverdale, Utah, and attends school there. He was last seen on Thursday morning, and his parents reported receiving a photograph that indicated he had been abducted and requested a ransom. The school contacted the police department, and an Endangered Missing Person Advisory was issued for Zhuang when he did not reappear on Friday morning.

Zhuang's host parents claimed to be unaware of his disappearance, stating that they had seen him the day before and heard him in the house around 3:30 a.m. However, there is no evidence to suggest that he was forcefully taken from the home. An Amber alert was not issued for Zhuang's disappearance, as the police do not have any information regarding the identity of the kidnappers, their motive, or whether they were known to Zhuang, his family, or his host family.

Authorities are working with the FBI, the US Embassy in China, and Chinese officials to locate the missing student. Police have provided limited details about the case but have assured the public that they are actively investigating and working around the clock to ensure Zhuang's safety. In 2022, the FBI reported that out of 5,800 missing Asian males, 2,600 were between the ages of 0-17.

The police in Utah have begun a search for the 17-year-old foreign exchange student from China after his parents contacted his high school. Authorities believe that Kai Zhuang was forcefully taken from his host family's home and is being held against his will. The police were notified of Zhuang's disappearance on Thursday night and sent an endangered missing person advisory the following day after receiving a call from his high school.

During a press conference, Riverdale Police Chief Casey Warren revealed that Zhuang's parents in China received a photo of their son along with a ransom letter, leading them to believe that he had been abducted. However, there is currently no suspect identified in the case. The police are urging anyone with information about Zhuang's whereabouts to contact the Riverdale Police Department.

Efforts to locate Zhuang are being coordinated with the FBI, the US Embassy in China, and Chinese officials. The police are working diligently to ensure his safe return and are utilizing all available resources to investigate the matter. The Embassy in China has not yet responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.