BC-CA--Missing College Student,2nd Ld/135
Missing Nevada college student found safe
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say a Nevada college student who vanished days ago during a visit to California has turned up safe at her dorm room.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office says 23-year-old Dianne Thacher returned to Sierra Nevada College near Lake Tahoe on Tuesday afternoon.
She was reported missing Sunday by her family in Rhode Island after checking out of her motel room on Oct. 6. Her car, with a flat tire, was found the same day in Goleta.
An air and ground search found nothing.
The Sheriff's Office says it appears that after the flat tire, Thacher's cellphone battery died and she stayed several days with a male acquaintance.
After she left to return home, he saw media coverage describing her as missing and contacted authorities.
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