MISSING: Peter Salvino, 25, last seen leaving party in Lincoln Park
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A desperate search was under way Monday night to find Northwestern University Ph.D. student Peter Salvino, who vanished after leaving a party in Lincoln Park over the weekend.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, Salvino's friends and family have been out looking for clues into his disappearance. They remained committed to their mission this chilly night.
"We've been here all day today; all day yesterday; all night yesterday," said Salvino's brother-in-law, Scotty Gruszka.
They gathered at the gate to the DePaul University Lincoln Park Campus at Lincoln and Fullerton avenues and Halsted Street. A missing persons flyer for Salvino was affixed to a lamppost across from the gate.
"Check the alleys, the dumpsters - anything really, please," said Nick Saleh.
Saleh is leading up the search to bring Salvino home. Salvino is his closest friend.
"This is my best friend; my brother," Saleh said.
Salvino vanished Saturday night. The 25-year-old was spotted in a photo at The Wieners Circle, 2622 N. Clark St., before meeting friends at a house party. The restaurant posted surveillance photos of Salvino.
Police said the last contact made with Salvino was on FaceTime early Sunday. He arrived at the party in the 2400 block of North Geneva Terrace, but never made it when he left to head home.
According to social media posts, he was last seen around 1 a.m.
Salvino was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and maroon pants. He is just over 6 feet tall and weights 190 pounds.
"Though it is a dark time, we have to keep our hope up, you know, no matter what - just keep looking," Saleh said. "He's out there. I know he is."
Salvino's friends spent a frigid Monday night searching alleys and holding out hope. Flyers were posted all throughout the Lincoln Park and East Lakeview communities.
"We are imploring all and all Lincoln Park and east lake core residents who have Ring doorbells or security cameras to check their footage from late Saturday night and early Sunday morning," Gruszka said. "This is not how we imagined heading into the holidays, and we desperately miss Peter."
Gruszka said when Salvino did not meet his father Sunday for the Bears game – and his phone went to voicemail – it was clear something was wrong.
"People don't vanish out of thin air," Gruszka said, "and again – he was a great guy. There's no reason to believe that he would have just gone off the grid, so, you know, we can't rule out anything, obviously."
With the falling temperatures and each passing day, the worry builds.
"We're still holding out hope," Gruszka said. "We're putting in every effort we can, and work with everyone we can too."
Family said Salvino had been drinking, but said he was not wasted or unable to walk a few blocks home. Chicago Police have issued a bulletin in this missing persons case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Area Three detectives at (312) 744-8266.
