Photo via the Office of Stafford County Sheriff.

A Howard University PhD student just days away from graduation has been missing for two days, and police are requesting help from anyone who might know of his whereabouts. Stafford County police briefly electronic located Lance Buckley’s phone after he disappeared while on his way to pick up graduation papers, but they were unable to find the 33-year-old in the area, police said today.

Buckley hitched a ride from the “slug line” at the Staffordboro Commuter Lot on Tuesday morning and indicated that he made it to Howard’s campus in a text message to his wife at 10:16 a.m. But his distraught family has not heard from him since. Buckley, who is finishing his PhD in microbiology, missed a meeting at noon and his family reported him missing that night. Police said he may be in possession of a handgun, but is not considered dangerous.

“Lance, I love you so much. No matter what, I just want you to come home,” his wife, Amy, pleaded in an emotional press conference yesterday. The Buckleys have two daughters, a three-year-old and a baby born just 12 days ago.

Buckley’s phone was electronically located for a brief period of time in the area of Blockhouse Point Conservation Park in Montgomery County yesterday afternoon, the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office said today. Montgomery County police searched the area but did not locate the missing student.

Buckley is described as a 33 year old white male, 5’11, and 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a dark colored t-shirt and gray Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-658-4400, call Crime Solvers at 540-659-2020 (callers may remain anonymous) or TEXT “Stafford” + your tip to CRIMES (274637).