February 17, 2011

02/05/11: Alan Lin, 22, Newport Beach, CA

Alan Sun-Long Lin
Alan Sun-Long Lin was last seen around 1 a.m. on Saturday, February 5 at Rudy's Pub and Grill at 3110 Newport Blvd. in Newport Beach, California. A surveillance tape showed him leaving the pub alone.

The 22-year old mechanical engineering student at the University of California Riverside (UCR), lived with three roommates in Riverside, California during the week, and stayed with his family in Irvine on weekends.The family became worried when he didn't come home for the weekend, or show up for school or work Monday.

His aunt, Cynthia Kao, said there had been no activity on Lin's iPhone or bank cards. His family and friends set up a Facebook page and an e-mail account, helpfindalan@gmail.com, seeking leads.

On Sunday, February 13, a passerby notified police at 7:16 a.m. after spotting a body floating in the Rhine Channel near the 600 block of Lido Park Drive in Newport Bay. The body was found 200 yards from Rudy’s Pub, where Lin was last seen. Sgt. Steve Burdette of the Newport Police told the media that the body appeared to have been in the water for a week and that there were no obvious signs of foul play. The body was later positively identified as Lin.

The coroner also aid that Lin had died from saltwater drowning, and that there was no significant trauma to his body, such as marks or bruises. Toxicology tests are pending.

About Alan Lin

Alan Sun-Long Lin was described as a popular student at UCR and a good friend. He was set to graduate in June with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Jun Wang, an adviser for UCR's mechanical engineering department, told The Press-Enterprise that Lin was involved in a number of student organizations, one of which was designing a formula racing car. He described Lin as a “role model student” who wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. (The Press-Enterprise, 2/16/11).

According to the paper, Lin’s father, “Hong Zong Lin, earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering at UC Berkeley and co-founded a risk assessment company called PredictionProbe based in Irvine, where the family lives.”

Lin will be remembered during a memorial service held each May for campus community members who have died.

A message on Lin’s Facebook page on Sunday, read:
"Alan was found this morning 2/13/11. Thank you everyone who was a part of Alan's life and all the concerned people on Facebook. Alan was a great kid and he loved everyone. May he rest in peace. I love you Alan and you will be missed dearly.''
Facts of Interest:

Name/age: Alan Sun-Long Lin, 22
Last seen: 2/5/11, Rudy’s Pub and Grill, 3110 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, CA
Physical Description: 5-foot-9, 160 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a small mole on his left cheek. Last seen wearing dark jeans, a black shirt, and a tan blazer.
Recovered: 2/13/11, Rhine Channel near the 600 block of Lido Park Drive in Newport Bay, CA
Investigating Agency: Newport Beach police, Det. Scott Smith, 949-644-3762.

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