The keys belonging to missing Philadelphia college student Shane Montgomery have been discovered at the edge of the Schuylkill River, detectives said on Sunday.
Montgomery, a 21-year-old student at West Chester University, was last seen on surveillance footage walking into a parking lot along the river's bank after leaving a bar in Manayunk, Pa., where he had been drinking with friends on an early Thanksgiving morning, according to Philly.com.
The discovery of the keys, made just after 10 a.m. by a New Jersey dive team helping in the search, is the first shred of evidence in Montgomery's disappearance.
Montgomery's uncle, Kevin Verbrugghe, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that the keys were found in the Manayunk canal's water just south of the parking lot. After trying them on his nephew's front door, it was confirmed that the keys belonged to the missing student.
On Nov. 26, Montgomery spent the night at Kildare's Pub with friends celebrating his 21st birthday. However, staff at the bar claimed to have seen nothing out of the ordinary that night.
"The manager present had no info Shane was causing a problem nor intoxicated and stated she noticed nothing out of the ordinary, other than guests leaving the building," pub Operations Director Jim Townsend told WTXF.
Earlier this month, a video showed Montgomery walking across a bridge spanning the Manayunk Canal toward a parking lot that is next to the Schuylkill River. Authorities believe he might have somehow ended up in the water while walking through the parking lot, WPVI-TV reports.
Since the keys have been found, investigators now have enough evidence to prove that Montgomery was on the water's edge before he disappeared, Verbrugghe said, adding that the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit will be meeting next weekend to discuss further plans about continuing the investigation.
Montgomery, described as being 5'11", 145 pounds, with light brown hair, has a Celtic cross tattoo on his shoulder, according to Fox News.
A $65,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Montgomery's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives at 215-686-3353.
Meanwhile, members of the community in Montgomery's hometown of Roxborough and Manayunk gathered at a local Catholic church to pray for his safe return, WTXF-TV reported.
His family "will continue to hope for further evidence," relatives said.
