In the quiet Latonia neighborhood of Covington, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, a routine Monday afternoon in late April has spiraled into an agonizing search for answers. Murry “Alexis” Foust, a 22-year-old student at Northern Kentucky University’s School of the Arts, vanished on April 27, 2026, after sending what may be their final known message to their mother: “I go to meet someone, will be back soon.” That simple, reassuring text has now become a focal point of concern, raising urgent questions about who Foust intended to meet and whether that encounter holds the key to their disappearance.

Foust, who uses they/he pronouns and is early in a gender transition, was last seen around 5:30 p.m. on April 27 heading toward campus from the Over-the-Rhine area of Cincinnati. Friends expected them to attend class that evening, but Foust never arrived. Surveillance footage released by the Covington Police Department captures the 22-year-old walking alone in the Latonia neighborhood near their apartment off Decoursey Avenue. Dressed in a dark jacket and T-shirt, loose patterned pants, black sneakers, and carrying a distinctive yellow backpack, Foust appears to be moving with purpose through familiar streets.

The discovery of personal items has only added to the unease. Foust’s car was found parked roughly a block from their shared apartment. Their cellphone was left behind inside the residence, and a bag believed to belong to them later turned up on the NKU campus. These details suggest Foust may have set out with every intention of returning home or attending class, only to vanish in the short distance between their residence and the university.

The last text to their mother stands out as particularly poignant and potentially significant. In an era where young adults constantly communicate via messages, that brief assurance—“I go to meet someone, will be back soon”—carries an ominous weight now that days have stretched into more than a week without contact. Family and friends describe Foust as reliable, artistic, and not prone to disappearing without notice. The message implies a casual, perhaps spontaneous plan rather than a long-planned trip, prompting investigators and loved ones to wonder: Who was this person Foust was going to meet? Was it someone known, a new acquaintance, or someone encountered online or in the community?

Covington Police have expressed concerns for Foust’s safety while stopping short of declaring foul play at this stage. They have actively solicited surveillance video from residents and businesses in the Latonia area, specifically requesting footage from approximately 5:45 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. on April 27. Aerial searches, EquuSearch volunteers, and coordinated efforts with neighboring jurisdictions have been mobilized as the case gains wider attention.

Foust’s background as a fine arts student nearing graduation adds a layer of tragedy to the story. Set to complete their degree in the coming weeks, Foust was described by friends as creative, engaged in campus life, and looking forward to the future. Close friend Charlie King took to social media early in the search, emphasizing that “Murry never made it to class and has been missing ever since.” King and others have highlighted that this behavior is completely out of character, fueling fears that something unexpected and possibly dangerous occurred during or after that planned meeting.

As a transgender individual early in transition, Foust’s case has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by LGBTQ+ youth and young adults, particularly in situations involving meetings with others. While no specific threats have been publicly identified, advocates and family members urge caution in speculating, focusing instead on the need for swift, thorough investigation. Mental health has also been referenced gently in some circles, with reports that Foust managed documented conditions with medication—another reason their sudden silence is so alarming.

The search has expanded beyond local streets. Police continue to review tips, unconfirmed sightings, and digital footprints. Foust’s phone being left behind limits immediate geolocation data, making eyewitness accounts and video evidence critical. The yellow backpack spotted in surveillance images was later found on campus, suggesting Foust may have reached or neared the university area before disappearing.

For Foust’s family, the waiting has been excruciating. The mother who received that last optimistic text now faces the daily torment of uncertainty. Friends have organized vigils, shared flyers, and pleaded publicly for information. Northern Kentucky University has issued statements of support, cooperating fully with police while offering counseling resources to students affected by the disappearance.

This case echoes broader patterns seen in missing persons investigations involving young adults. Often, initial hours are crucial, yet in this instance, the report gained momentum only after friends pushed for visibility. The transition from “missing student” to a community-wide concern highlights both the strengths and gaps in how such cases are handled—reliance on public engagement through social media and surveillance appeals.

As the search enters its second week, authorities and loved ones continue to appeal for tips. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Covington Police Department at 859-292-2234 or 911. Even small details—a vehicle, a conversation overheard, or additional footage—could break the case open.

The phrase “I go to meet someone, will be back soon” now hangs heavily over the investigation. It represents both a promise unfulfilled and a potential breadcrumb. In the absence of further communication, it forces everyone involved to confront difficult possibilities: a voluntary departure that went wrong, an encounter with the wrong person, or an unforeseen emergency. Foust’s artistic community, university peers, and tight-knit circle of friends refuse to lose hope, posting reminders that Murry is loved, missed, and desperately needed home.

The wooded areas, urban streets, and river corridors around Covington and Northern Kentucky have been combed, yet the young art student remains missing. As surveillance images circulate widely and the public pores over their own camera footage, the central question persists: Who did Murry “Alexis” Foust go to meet that April evening, and what happened in the hours that followed?

For now, the yellow backpack, the parked car, the abandoned phone, and that final text form the fragile thread of evidence in a mystery that has gripped the region. Family, friends, police, and strangers united in concern continue their vigil, hoping the next lead will bring Murry safely home and provide answers to a message that was meant to be ordinary but has become haunting.