PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Prince George’s County police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing Howard University student who was last seen in Northern Virginia. Esube “Izzy” Wondwossen, 22, disappeared after being seen on Tuesday, Sept. 15, near Pentagon Metro Station in Arlington, Virginia.

Police say she was wearing a black zip-up hoodie, black leggings, Crocs and a headband when she was last seen. She was also carrying a Michael Kors tote bag. Her family says the search has become urgent as they try to piece together where she went after what they believed was a normal commute to school.

Family says she was on her way to class when she vanished

Wondwossen’s father said he dropped her off at the Branch Avenue Metro Station around 7 a.m. that morning, expecting her to head to Howard University as usual. He said she appeared happy and in a good mood, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary before she left.

Her sister said Wondwossen is a senior at Howard and was excited to graduate. The family says they do not know why she would have gone to Alexandria that morning, and that uncertainty has made the timeline of her disappearance even harder to understand.

Last known sighting places her in Alexandria around 8:25 a.m.

The family says Wondwossen was seen getting off a Metro bus near Reading Avenue and Beauregard Street in Alexandria around 8:25 a.m. on Sept. 15. That account places her in a different part of Northern Virginia after she was first dropped off at Branch Avenue.

Police later said she was last seen leaving Pentagon Metro Station in Arlington. The details make clear that investigators and relatives are trying to connect several sightings and locations from the same morning, but no confirmed explanation has been given for why she ended up there.

Police describe her physical features and clothing

Authorities described Wondwossen as a Black woman who is 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 110 pounds. Police also said she has a mole above her left eyebrow.

Anyone who sees her or has any information is being urged to contact Prince George’s County police. The clothing description, along with the tote bag and identifying mark above her eyebrow, could help people recognize her if they have recently been in the area or on Metro that day.

Her mother says the phone location tracking appeared to be turned off

Wondwossen’s mother, Aida Endrias, said she noticed that location tracking on her daughter’s phone appeared to be turned off when she searched for her. Family members said that added to their concern because it removed one of the tools they hoped might help them find her quickly.

Endrias said she is hoping her daughter is alive and safe. Helina Wondwossen, her sister, said the family believes Izzy would not stay somewhere overnight without telling them and said it had already been several days without answers.

Howard University community waits as the search expands

The family said Izzy is close to graduating from Howard University, which has made her disappearance especially painful for relatives waiting for news. They said they have been trying to reach as many people as possible in hopes that someone remembers seeing her after the Sept. 15 sightings.

For now, Prince George’s County police are leading the search and asking anyone with information about Wondwossen’s whereabouts to come forward. Her family says they want one thing most of all: confirmation that she is safe.

Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.