Antinette Keller hasn't been seen since last Thursday. Authorities were out again Monday searching the area for any sign of Keller.
The search is being carried out by local, county and state police. They have been out since Friday night, at first using flashlights and over the weekend bringing in police dogs to pick up Keller's scent.
"We are searching as long as it takes so we can bring her back safetly," said Sgt. Alan Smith, NIU Police.
The search for Keller resumed Monday before daybreak. Smith says some 40 people from all different jurisdictions did a grid search of a wooded section of DeKalb, just blocks from Keller's campus dorm that she is known to frequent. It was her friends at the dorm who reported her missing Friday night.
"She just told the people she was going into the forest, which she did all the time to do her artwork because that's a nice way to relax and have your art feel going, and she always came back before dark. She was supposed to meet someone the next day and never showed up," said Jamie Feather, friend.
NIU police tell ABC7 they don't have any indication of foul play but it doesn't appear that Toni, as her friends know her, ran away, either. They say there hasn't been any activity on her cell phone since Thursday.
"We checked the residence halls, all the places her friends said she would go, we checked the area she was known to go to and we are following up on leads from there," said Sgt. Smith.
Originally from Plainfield, Toni is a freshman at NIU and though she has only been on campus for a couple of months, word of her disappearance has her friends worried.
"This is the first time this has happened. It is frightening, and hopefully she is OK wherever she is at. We're hoping that nothing has happened to her," said Sydney LaPorte, friend.
"She is a really tough girl, so if anyone can pull through whatever type of situation she might be in, she can do it. I have faith," said Feather.
Keller was last seen going into the woods with an art portfolio and a camera.
