LAUREN SPIERER - 20 yo - Indiana U/ Bloomington IN

September 19th, 2011
"Shine 4 Lauren” is expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees to Dunn Meadow on Thursday night, event planners said.
The awareness concert, which was named to trend on Twitter, is
designed to raise awareness and energize search efforts for missing
Indiana University student Lauren Spierer.

“We want to keep it upbeat and positive,” said concert director
Lisa Wagner, who worked with the Indiana Memorial Union Board to plan
the evening. “There’s still so much we don’t know, but this will show
that people aren’t giving up.”

Country musician Clayton Anderson, Chicago-based band Dot Dot Dot
and “This is Indiana” singers Brice Fox and Daniel Webber are scheduled
to perform. IU basketball coach Tom Crean and B 97 radio host Matt
Thiel will serve as emcees.

Concertgoers are encouraged to wear blue, the search’s designated
color, and download flashlight applications to smartphones. At the
evening’s end, the crowd will be asked to tilt the phones’ glowing
screens skyward in a ceremonial “shining moment.”

Event planning included input from Spierer’s parents, Robert and Charlene Spierer.

Despite large crowds and a chance of rain-softened soil, Wagner said the event shouldn’t cause damage similar to the Victoria’s Secret PINK event’s aftermath in 2009. The stage, which is about the length of a semi-truck, will be constructed on a concrete rectangle.

“We know previous concerts damaged Dunn Meadow after the stage
sank into the ground,” Wagner said. “We’re being careful to prevent
that.”

“Walks for Lauren” will start from Smallwood, the Alpha Delta Pi
sorority and the Read and Wilkie residence halls at 6:20 p.m. The
concert will begin at 7.

Spierer, 20, was reportedly last seen about 4:30 a.m. June 3 at the intersection of 11th Street and College Avenue.

Police and volunteer searches this summer have turned up no
results, including a recent search at a Vigo County landfill where
Bloomington trash is dumped.

Tips about Spierer’s disappearance can be given to the
Bloomington Police Department at 339-4477; the tips mailing address,
Find Lauren, P.O. Box 1226, Bloomington, IN 47402-1226; the
helpfindlauren@gmail.com email address; and the www.findlauren.com website. Information can be given anonymously.

For more information about the upcoming concert, visit www.facebook.com/Shine4LaurenConcert.



http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2011/09/19/news.qp-5971931.sto

BLOOMINGTON, IN (WAVE) - It's been four months since an Indiana University student disappeared.

Lauren Spierer's parents say their days
revolve around meetings with police and walking in their daughter's last
known steps hoping to find her, or find closure.

Robert and Charlene Spierer have been in Bloomington since their daughter disappeared after a night of drinking with friends.

They've conducted searches and made public
pleas for information about what happened to the 20-year-old IU student.
But are still waiting for leads or suspects.

The New York couple has resolved to stay in Indiana indefinitely.

http://www.wave3.com/story/15603076/still-no-sign-of-missing-iu-student-4-months-after-disappearance

3:57 p.m. EST, November 17, 2011
Bloomington, Ind.

Robert and Charlene Spierer were at a meeting Thursday when Bo Dietl was given probationary permission in Indiana to investigate the IU student's disappearance.

The memory of their daughter is still very vivid in their minds
and they said they'll keep searching for their daughter, no matter how long it takes.

"Lauren is an important part of our family, and every day with out her is a lost day," said Charlene Spierer. "It's lost without Lauren."
Do not ask Charlene how long it has been since she's seen her daughter Lauren, it feels like yesterday.
"It feels like June 3," said Spierer. "As far as we're concerned, it's
like the first day we heard that she was missing. We're just as
passionate and intently searching to find Lauren."
The Spierers said when it comes to finding Lauren they will stop at nothing to find
her. After seemingly searching everywhere, the family turned to Private Investigator Bo Dietl for help.
"It's additional resources to help with the investigation" said Robert Spierer. "The Bloomington
Police are still active, but this is just another group that is
available to help and track down leads and help find Lauren."
After being told to leave town, private eye Bo Dietl is coming back. Robert
Spierer said despite comments Dietl made on live TV, he is confident everyone can work together.
"I think that's in the past and forgotten and apologized for, so I don't think that's an issue" said Robert.
The Spierers are headed back to New York to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, the first one without Lauren.
"It can't be harder than it already is," said Charlene.
"Every day is hard, it's not marked by a holiday," said Robert. "It is not really a meaningful difference to us."
Lauren Spierer is described as approximately four feet, 11 inches tall with a
slender build. She has blue eyes and blonde hair, longer than shoulder
length. The 20-year-old had just finished her sophomore year at IU.
Anyone with information should call Bloomington police at 812-339-4477.

Spierer's mother Charlene Spierer said Lauren has a life-threatening heart condition called Long QT Syndrome. Her mother has asked if anyone knows where Lauren is, to please take her to a hospital.
http://www.fox59.com/news/laurenspierer/wxin-lauren-spierer-investigation-spierers-pi-granted-probationary-permission-to-investigate-laurens-disappearance-20111117,0,7484683.column

The parents of missing Indiana University student, Lauren Spierer,
are thanking their friends and family for supporting them as the holiday
season nears.

The Spierers posted a short note Monday on findlauren.com, reaffirming their commitment to finding their daughter. Lauren Spierer went missing in June after a night out with friends.

“This Thanksgiving, we are thankful to those of you who have kept
Lauren in your thoughts, prayers and hearts,” the Spierers wrote.

Supporters in Bloomington have organized two events in December. One
is to set up a prayer and support tree in Fountain Park Mall for the
Spierers, and the other is a self-defense class to encourage
college-aged women to be more aware of their safety.
http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/spierer-family-community-support-holidays-23850/

IU student who was with Spierer before disappearance settles unrelated alcohol case


December 8, 2011, last update: 12/8 @ 3:04 pm

Corey Rossman

An Indiana University student and friend of Lauren Spierer’s who was
with the missing 20-year-old the night she disappeared in June showed up
in court Thursday morning to settle an illegal drinking case against him.

Corey E. Rossman, 21, a junior from Massachusetts studying real
estate finance at the Kelley School of Business, pleaded guilty to
illegal consumption of alcohol. He qualified for a pre-trial diversion
program that allowed him to pay $400 and complete alcohol education
classes in exchange for the conviction’s dismissal in a year.

All he had to pay Thursday was an additional $6 in court costs and a $1 fine, according to court records.

Rossman was arrested last December after police found him
intoxicated at 3:14 a.m. at the corner of Eighth Street and College Avenue.

He has taken advantage of Monroe County’s pre-trial diversion
program twice before — after an October 2010 arrest for illegal
consumption of alcohol and following a 2008 incident in which he was
charged with possession of marijuana when he was living on campus at Briscoe Quad.

Rossman was banned from Smallwood Plaza, where Spierer lived, in
the aftermath of an incident on Halloween 2010. Police said Rossman and
another man tried to enter Smallwood using a credit card.

Rossman was with the missing Spierer at Kilroy’s Sports Bar in
the early-morning hours of June 3. The two then walked to the downtown
Smallwood Plaza complex, where Rossman apparently got into a fight and
was punched. He claims to have no memory of what happened that night and
has denied being involved in Spierer’s disappearance.

http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2011/12/08/news.iu-student-who-was-with-spierer-before-disappearance-settles-unrelated-alcohol-case.sto

Spierer Family Continues Search for Missing Daughter Into New Year

7 months have passed since Indiana University sophomore Lauren Spierer disappeared after a night out with college friends.

January 5, 2012



2012 ushered in a New Year — and fresh grief — for Charlene and Rob Spierer, whose daughter, Lauren,
disappeared last June following a night spent with friends at a bar in Bloomington, Ind.

Tuesday marked seven months of search parties, vigils and fundraisers
held for the 20-year-old fashion major from Edgemont, N.Y. Charlene and
Rob Spierer, however, remain undaunted in their quest to find their daughter.

"Words cannot express the sadness which fills our hearts in Lauren's
absence," the Spierer family wrote on their Facebook page on Dec. 31,
2010. "As the New Year approaches, we pray for answers and for Lauren's
safe return. Just one small miracle.... We hope that YOU, the person who
took Lauren, will finally have the courage to end this nightmare for
our family. We are here, waiting, for your answers."

The Spierer family has retained private investigator Bo Dietl, a former New York City police detective. Rob Spierer recently told television station WNYW that new information has been unearthed their daughter's case, but did not provide further details.

For more information and news on Lauren Spierer, visit her official search website or Facebook page.


http://whiteplains.patch.com/articles/spierer-family-continues-search-for-missing-daughter-into-new-year

It's been nearly eight months since family members have seen Lauren
Spierer, the 20-year-old Edgemont native who vanished several blocks
away from her apartment near Indiana University last June. But today,
Charlene and Rob Spierer have marked their daughter's 21st birthday via
messages on social media platforms, hoping that continued awareness and
vigilance will eventually bring her safely home.


"Remembering today, 21 years ago, as one of the happiest days in our
lives. Happy Birthday, Lauren. We love you with all our hearts," the
Spierer family today wrote on the search party's official Facebook wall and website.


The Spierers also Tweeted a message
on Monday, saying, "Sending you love as we celebrate your birthday in a
few hours, Lauren. We will celebrate you every day until you come
home."


"Tomorrow is her birthday," NewsOnLaurenS
tweeted Monday evening. "Celebrate her by wearing blue. And if you have
the answers, come forward. That's all that matters at this point."


Lauren disappeared last summer
while returning home after a night spent with classmates at a local
bar. Charlene and Rob Spierer have continued to search for their
daughter, traveling between their native New York and Bloomington, Ind.
while issuing statements and making occasional media appearances.


A benefit will be held for Lauren at the Red Hat in Irvington-on-Hudson on Thursday, Jan. 26 from 7:30-10:30 p.m. For more information, contact Joanne Ferraro Eleftheriou at joannef@spotwelders.com.

http://scarsdale.patch.com/articles/parents-of-lauren-spierer-mark-missing-daughter-s-21st-birthday

January 19, 2012

Indianapolis

The parents of missing Indiana University student Lauren
Spierer announced Thursday that they have ruled out several persons of
interest in the disappearance of their daughter. It was the first time
Charlene and Robert Spierer have publicly eliminated potential suspects.

When we met up with the Spierers in Bloomington, they said it had been a
rough week. They had to spend Lauren's 21st birthday without her, and it
was harder than the phone call they received when she vanished from Bloomington.

"I would have to say it was the hardest day of my life," said Robert Spierer, Lauren's father.

The couple is back in Bloomington, still hopeful someone, something will lead them to Lauren.

"It's perpetually sad," said Charlene Spierer, Lauren's mother. I
miss her every single day. I wake up and think 'Oh God, again today.'"

Since June 3, when Lauren was last seen, police have focused on five Indiana
University students, all deemed"persons of interest."

The Spierers wanted more help and hired New York private detectives, led by
former NYPD cop Bo Dietl. The private investigators said they have
spoken to four of the persons of interest, including Lauren's boyfriend, Jesse Wolff.

"Have I ruled out Jesse?" asked Robert Spierer. "I am comfortable saying he had nothing to do with it."

Spierer also doesn't think David Rohn, Lauren's close friend, had anything to
do with her disappearance. He spoke to the private investigators, and so
did Jay Rosenbaum, one of the last people to see Lauren.

The family's biggest questions remain about Corey Rossman. The private
investigators interviewed his roommate Mike Beth, but the Spierers said
Rossman isn't talking.

He previously told police that he has no
memory of the night after he got punched in the face inside Lauren's
apartment building.

"I don't believe he had any amnesia and I don't think he is telling the truth," said Charlene.

As for the theories, the Spierers don't know what to believe.

"I don't know whether she was kidnapped," said Robert Spierer.

What about reports she may have used cocaine? With her rare heart
condition, could she have accidentally overdosed? The parents have
talked with her friends and said that wasn't Lauren. Instead, Robert has
another theory.

"Maybe someone put something in her drink," said Robert.

Lauren was at Kilroy's in the hours before she disappeared. She left her shoes there and her cell phone.

Eight months later, her parents worry people don't see her as a vibrant person but instead, just a face on a poster.

"To Lauren, to be a picture is just painful," said Robert.

A week ago, the pain reached a new level. A false post on Twitter
revealed Lauren's body was found in Brown County, but it wasn't true.

"It's incredibly cruel," said Charlene. "It's one of the worst moments."

Even though the Spierers know the chances their daughter is still alive are slim, they want to know what happened.

"If I could walk away with Lauren, I will be forever grateful." said Charlene.

Go to www.findLauren.com for updates or to post tips anonymously.
http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-lauren-spierers-parents-clear-persons-of-interest-from-daughters-disappearance-20120119,0,5833286.column

EDGEMONT, N.Y. – The mother of Lauren Spierer,
20, the Edgemont High School graduate and Indiana University student
who vanished June 3 in Bloomington, Ind., has posted an open letter on a blog dedicated to news of the missing woman.


The letter, titled "You know where she is," is written to whoever it
is who may have been responsible for the young woman's disappearance as
she was returning to her apartment from a visit with friends.


The letter was posted a day before the nine-month anniversary of Lauren Spierer's disappearance:


"You know where she is" by Charlene Spierer


March 2, 2012


To whom this may concern,


Thoughts on a page. You and I share unique roles; we are both
insiders, forever bound by the senseless circumstances of June 3, 2011.
You were with Lauren, you know what happened and you know where she is.
Maybe you spend every day trying to forget. I am Lauren's mother. I have
a front row seat in this never-ending nightmare. The smallest task
requires tremendous effort. Being home, going places for the first time
where Lauren has been. Hearing one of her favorite songs. Hearing a song
she would love but may never hear. Waiting at a light, waiting in line.
Always, always on edge. Always waiting for a phone call which will tell
me Lauren has been found or even that the smallest piece of information
has made its way into the right hands. Waiting to find out if a Twitter
rumor is true...waiting to hear if the body recently found is Lauren's.
Imagine waiting to hear if a body that was just discovered is your
daughter's? I spend every day trying to find answers to the questions,
which will end this mystery. Whatever the events of the night, you hold
the key to what happened to Lauren at night's end. I wonder if you give
Lauren a second thought. I wonder what type person it takes to watch our
grief as we face another day. I think about you all the time. I wish
for one instant you were in our place, waiting, praying, hoping. I wish
you knew what it felt like to have lost a loved one. Missing...The
despair that comes from the realization that someone knows the
whereabouts of your missing child is indescribable. I wish you could
feel that heartache. I would be lying if I said I didn't wish you were
experiencing the same excruciating pain we are. I wish for today, I held
your fate in my hands.


Nine months. A lot can happen in nine months. The miracle of life, the joy of a child joining a family and all that she brings.


Nine months is a long time to maintain the silence of one so
determined to keep a secret. I know there is not much I can control. I
know all of our efforts to date have not resulted in finding Lauren.
Nine months is a long time. Memories fade and life goes on but I promise
to never let you forget. I promise to be a constant reminder should
your memory fail you. I can do that, at the very least. We will never
stop looking for Lauren. You should know that we are just as determined
to find Lauren today as we were on June 3, 2011.


Hoping today is the day....


Charlene Spierer

http://www.thedailybronxville.com/news/spierer-missing-edgemont-girls-mom-posts-letter

Lauren Spierer case: Charlene Spierer believes her daughter is no longer alive
4:28 PM, Apr. 23, 2012

Excerpt:

BLOOMINGTON, IND. — The mother of missing college student Lauren Spierer paused for a moment, tears welling up in her eyes as she gave a different answer to a question she’s been asked numerous times since last June — do you believe your daughter is alive?

“I don’t,” she said softly.

Charlene Spierer revealed her change of perspective in the first interview she and her husband, Robert, have given in months, as they returned to Bloomington as the one-year anniversary of their daughter’s disappearance nears.

“We’re trying to be realistic,” Robert Spierer said. “We know that if she had the chance to reach out to us, she would have done it.”

Read more: http://www.lohud.com/article/20120423/NEWS/304230114

updated
6/1/2012
Almost exactly a year after college student Lauren Spierer disappeared
after a night out with friends in Bloomington, Ind., police say her case
is still active. Her mother, Charlene Spierer, said Friday that she
always has hope her daughter is alive but “after a year, I don’t think
it’s likely.”
Lauren’s father, Robert Spierer, told TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie: “You
have to be realistic ... you always have that small element of hope, but
of course, as time goes by, you become more and more realistic about
the possibility of her being alive.“

On Thursday, the Bloomington police department said it has
investigated more than 2,500 tips and that Lauren’s disappearance is
still under investigation. They said two to three credible tips come in
weekly, and they require extensive follow-up.
Lauren, 20 years old at the time she went missing, was attending classes
at Indiana University. She was only days away from returning home to
New York for an internship during the summer break. It is understood
that Lauren left Kilroy’s, a sports bar, the night of June 3, 2011, with friend Corey Rossman around 2:30 a.m.
Though she went to her apartment building, she did not go home,
allegedly going to Rossman’s apartment. She was reportedly last seen
leaving his apartment.

Rossman's attorney has said in the past that his client has no memory
of his last moments with Lauren because he was punched in an
altercation at the apartment complex, though he doesn't remember being
punched, or the 15 minutes before he was allegedly hit.
Robert Spierer told Guthrie: “What we do know is the people who were
with her that night really did nothing to help her, and that’s part of
the tragedy around this.”



Charlene Spierer agreed. “We’re aware of the fact that Lauren was not
in great shape, and the idea that Lauren was on the floor of her
apartment building and steps away from her apartment and she could’ve
been taken home and was not is unconscionable.”
Robert said that when Lauren first disappeared, her friends were open
and forthcoming with the family and police, but soon people “lawyered
up” and the “lines of communication became nonexistent or severely
limited, and to this day many of those people — most of those people —
have not taken police polygraphs, which is what we’ve asked for from the
beginning.”
Sister Rebecca Spierer, 25, accompanied her parents on TODAY, one of
the first times she’s spoken out about the case. She said, “We could’ve
never imagined still a year later and not having the answers that we so
desperately want. But every day we’re just trying to stay together,
we’re leaning on each other and we’re doing the best we can.”

Though the family has admitted Lauren’s case looks bleak, they have
still not given up hope. He mother said, “We’re committed and we’re
driven and we just go through every day thinking about what we can do to
make a difference, and try to get closer to finding Lauren.”
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/47646731/ns/today-today_news/t/lauren-spierers-parents-its-unlikely-shes-still-alive/#.T8oX41Kd58E

Lauren Spierer, Indiana University Student, Still Missing 1 Year Later

Posted: 06/04/2012 3:27 pm
Updated: 06/04/2012 3:45 pm

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

A year ago, Lauren Spierer vanished after walking home from a bar in Bloomington, Indiana.

Despite the police department's active pursuit of 2600 tips and the hopes and prayers of her family, the Indiana University student remains missing.

Spierer had just completed her sophomore year at the school, where she was studying apparel merchandising, when she went partying with some friends on June 3, 2011 and never made it home.

Her mother, Charlene, says it is unlikely that Lauren remains alive but she has not given up hope of finding her. "I think we're, you know, we're committed and we're driven and, you know, we just go through every day thinking about what we can do to make a difference and what we can do to try to get closer to finding Lauren," she told NBC's Savannah Guthrie last week.

The Bloomington community has come together to help find Lauren and to support the family through coordinating volunteers, designing and distributing videos and missing posters and asking for tips. Lisa Mallory, a mother of three, checks a post-office box established for Spierer almost every day, reports the Reporter-Times. When she finds mail, usually a card from a well-wisher, she calls up Charlene to read her the notes. Jim Krause, a telecommunication lecturer and occasional field producer for "America's Most Wanted," has chased down tips to no avail.

Students, faculty and staff at the school held a vigil for Lauren on June 1, reports WISH-TV. "So here we are one year later, weary but not tired, discouraged but not daunted," said Indiana University Dean Harold Goldsmith at the gathering.

Anyone with information on the case should contact Bloomington police at 812-339-4477 and NYC's Beau Dietl & Associates, private investigators hired by the Spierers, at 800-777-9366. In addition, there is a website findlauren.com and the post office box for tips is: Find Lauren, P.O. Box 1226, Bloomington, IN 47402.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/04/lauren-spierer-indiana-university_n_1568564.html?ref=chicago&ir=Chicago

One Year Later: The Lauren Spierer Case

June 07, 2012
June 3 marks one year since Lauren
Spierer disappeared. The 20-year-old Edgemont resident and Indiana
University student was last seen in Bloomington, Indiana around 4:30am
after a night out partying with friends. She was last seen wearing black
pants, a white tank top and shirt. According to those with her that
evening, Lauren was separated from her shoes and her phone at some point
during the night.

It’s been a year without birthdays, holidays, family and friends for Lauren and a painful void for her family and friends.

The Bloomington Police Department say
they have received over 2,600 tips on Lauren’s case. FBI, Indiana State
Police, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children (Team Adam) as well as civilian
volunteers have all assisted in the search for Lauren. The Sycamore
Ridge Landfill, which serves the Bloomington area, was checked for
evidence between August 16th-26th.

According to Joseph Quartlers, the
Bloomington Police captain who has been the press point of contact on
the case, “The case of Lauren’s disappearance is still considered to be a
very active investigation. Detectives remain assigned to the case with
it being classified a “priority” case for them as it has since Lauren
was reported missing. On average, two to three credible tips come in on a
weekly basis and they can require extensive follow up by the
investigators. “Credible” tips are determined by information that has
obvious relevance or correlation to information already known to
investigators.


In a statement sent out late last week timed with the one-year mark, Bloomington Police say:
The Bloomington Police Department
continues to make inquiries on a variety of circumstances occurring in
other jurisdictions. Inquiries have been made on approximately ten (10)
unidentified bodies that have come to the attention of BPD over the
course of the last year. Some of those bodies have been found in Indiana
or in a contiguous state. Inquiries have been made on other missing
person cases being investigated by other law enforcement agencies and on
suspects arrested for serious violent crimes. Several individuals have
been brought to our attention by other law enforcement agencies that may
be familiar with the criminal tendencies of those in their communities
who could be responsible for this type of incident. Inquiries such as
those described will continue to be made if it appears that there is any
potential to further this ongoing investigation. Hundreds of primary
and secondary interviews have been conducted and investigators continue
to make progress on many fronts.

As was stated in a previous release
marking six months since Lauren disappeared, much has been done on this
case and much continues to be done. That statement still holds true
today. Some place significance on the date marking one year since Lauren
disappeared, but the passing of time has not deterred the effort or
commitment on the part of the Bloomington Police Department to provide
answers to Lauren’s family and the Bloomington community.

The Bloomington police have looked
into connections between Lauren’s case and the Michaela Shunick case. In
that situation, 22-year-old Louisiana University college student
“Mickey” Shunick went missing in the early morning hours of May 19th in
Lafayette, Louisiana. Both women are blond and petite. According to
Bloomington PD, “It should be noted that nothing of significance to the
Spierer investigation came from the discussion held with police
investigators in Louisiana.”

Police also looked into a possible
link to Clyde Gibson, who has been arrested for two murders in New
Albany, Indiana. At this time, officials say none of the information
developed relates to Lauren’s disappearance.

This past Sunday, the Spierer family
took to social media putting out a statement on the Facebook they made
after Lauren disappeared called The Official Lauren Spierer Updates from
Her Family. They wrote:
How to begin. A year ago, Lauren
left Smallwood, walked a short distance to a friend’s apartment and as
we all tragically know, the rest is history. Lauren’s story could be any
young adult’s story on any college campus. We hope Lauren’s ending is
never repeated. Here we are, one year after Lauren’s disappearance,
knowing in this very instant, there are people who know where Lauren is.
The cruelty is almost unbearable. Think about it….think about someone
who means the world to you… .consider how you would feel if suddenly
that person disappeared seemingly off the face of the earth. Think about
how it would feel to wake up every single day knowing there is someone
who could help you, give you answers and yet inexplicably refuses to do
so. It is beyond comprehension. It is beyond “self preservation,” it is
the conscious decision of someone, to destroy a family, every second of
every minute of every hour of every day, over and over again for an
indeterminate amount of time. It truly is, almost unbearable. I say
almost, because we have an undying love for Lauren. Lauren is like a
breath of fresh air, she is the bright spot in the day of those who know
her. Lauren would never give up, she would fight for answers, she would
be the loudest voice. We will never give up, we will fight for answers,
and we will be her voice.

Sincerely,
Rob, Charlene and Rebecca Spierer

Anyone with information related to
this case is encouraged to contact the Bloomington Police Department at
812-339-4477 or by email at
policetips@bloomington.in.gov

Lauren Spierer Missing: Family Of Missing College Student Awaits Identity Of Skull Found

07/16/2012

The family of Lauren Spierer, an Indiana college student who disappeared more than a year ago, anxiously await test results regarding a skull found not far from where the young woman disappeared.

"In the days ahead, a family will have answers they have been desperately seeking," the Spierers posted on a Facebook page they maintain about the case. "Will it be ours?"

Fishermen found the skull in the White River on July 9. The location is about 50 miles from the college town of Bloomington, Ind., where Lauren Spierer was last seen. Police divers searched the waterway for additional remains, but none were found.

A spokesperson for Bloomington police told The Huffington Post that the skull will be examined by a forensic anthropologist. The expert will work to determine the age, race, and gender. They will also try to determine whether the skull belongs to Spierer. The testing could take up to two months to complete, police said.

Authorities did not comment on whether there were any indications of external injuries to the skull.

This is not the first time the Spierer family has had to wait for news on a potential match. They went through the same thing in April, when skeletal remains were found west of Bloomington. In that case, experts ultimately determined the bones belonged to an unidentified male.


Lauren Spierer, who would now be 21, was last seen on June 3, 2011 around 4:30 a.m. just a few blocks from her Smallwood Plaza apartment. Earlier in the night, Spierer had visited Kilroy's, a nearby sports bar that closes at 3 a.m. When she left the establishment, she left behind her shoes and cellphone, police said.

After leaving the bar, Spierer reportedly went to fellow college student Corey Rossman's apartment before deciding to walk home. What happened to her after that remains a mystery. She was reported missing less than 12 hours later.

Bloomington police, Indiana University police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police and the FBI have all conducted searches for Spierer.

In April, Spierer's father, Robert Spierer, told the Journal News he is frustrated with the case and had reached a conclusion about Rossman.

"I think he's a liar and a coward," Robert Spierer told the Journal News.

Rossman's lawyer, Carl Salzmann, has previously said his client has no memory of his last moments with Spierer because he was punched in an altercation at her apartment.

Robert Spierer told the newspaper the memory loss claim was "laughable" and a "statement of convenience."

On Saturday, Lauren's family did not name any names but they did post a message that was apparently directed at her abductor.

"When will you end this nightmare for our family? We will never give up," the message reads. "We are just as determined as we were on June 3, 2011. You need to know that. It's our promise to you. For now we continue to wait."

Lauren's family created a website called findlauren.com and are offering a $250,000 reward for information that leads to finding their daughter.

Lauren Spierer is described as a white female who is 4-feet-11-inches tall with a slender build. She has blue eyes and blond hair. She was last wearing a white tank top with a light-colored shirt over it and black stretch pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Bloomington Police at 812-339-4477.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/lauren-spierer-missing_n_1676859.html?utm_hp_ref=crime&ncid=webmail4

Lauren Spierer: Missing Woman's Family Anxiously Awaits Tests on Skull

By Mike Fleeman
Friday August 03, 2012 02:45 PM EDT

A tooth from a skull found in an Indianapolis's White River is being tested for a match to missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer.

Authorities cautioned they have no information tying the remains to the 20-year-old sophomore, who vanished in June 2011 from Bloomington after a night out with friends, and that other bodies have been found in the region that were not hers.

The discovery of the skull July 8 by a fisherman means more anxious waiting by Spierer's loved ones while forensic scientists conduct tests.

"It could take as long as eight weeks," Spierer's mother says in an open letter. "That's 80,640 minutes of agony. We are waiting to find out if a skull found in the White River might be Lauren's. It's chilling to say the words."

While identifying the skull could take two months, authorities were hoping for a faster ID by comparing a tooth to Spierer's dental records, the Marion County, Ind., Coroner’s Office says.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20618060,00.html

Lauren Spierer Missing: Abducted Woman Mom Writes Angry Letter (READ IT)

Posted: 08/03/2012 2:18 pm

The mother of Lauren Spierer, an Indiana college student who vanished without a trace more than a year ago, told the person responsible in an open letter released Thursday that, "I hope with every breath you take, you remember Lauren."

In a letter addressed, "To Whom This May Concern," and published on the family's blog, Charlene Spierer said she has more questions than answers about her daughter's disappearance.

"Have we met? Time will tell. So many questions," she wrote. (Full Letter)

Lauren Spierer would be 21-years-old Friday. She was last seen around 4:30 a.m. June 3, 2011 just a few blocks from her Smallwood Plaza apartment in Bloomington. Earlier in the night, Spierer had visited Kilroy's, a nearby sports bar that closes at 3 a.m. When she left the establishment, she left behind her shoes and cellphone, police said.

After leaving the bar, Spierer reportedly went to fellow college student Corey Rossman's apartment before deciding to walk home. What happened to her after that remains a mystery. She was reported missing less than 12 hours later.

The Bloomington Police Department, Indiana University police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police and the FBI have all searched for Spierer. But authorities say they do not know who is responsible for her disappearance.

"Who are you? Did you go on any searches?" Charlene Spierer asks in her letter. "Maybe you were no longer in Bloomington as thousands helped look for Lauren. Did you use Lauren's disappearance to your advantage?"

Spierer wrote about the anxiety her family is experiencing as they wait for the identification of a skull that was found not far from where her daughter disappeared. "It could take as long as eight weeks. That's 80,640 minutes of agony," she explained.

Fishermen found the skull in the White River July 9 about 50 miles from Bloomington. Police divers searched the waterway for additional remains, but nothing was found.

A spokesperson for Bloomington police told The Huffington Post that the skull will be examined by a forensic anthropologist. The expert will work to determine the age, race, and gender, and whether the skull belongs to Spierer. The spokesperson confirmed the testing could take up to two months to complete.

There is, however, at least one person who already knows whether or not the skull could be Lauren Spierer's.

"I find it incomprehensible that if by chance you are reading this, you know the answer already," Charlene Spierer wrote. "I recently read that the White River is 362 miles long. I am guessing that if you placed Lauren in a body of water, the current could have relocated her to another area."

Authorities have not commented on whether there were any indications of external injuries to the skull.

This is also not the first time the Spierer family has waited for news on a potential match. In April, skeletal remains were found west of Bloomington, but experts ultimately determined the bones belonged to an unidentified male.

That month, Lauren Spierer's father, Robert Spierer, told the Journal News he is frustrated with the case and reached a conclusion about Rossman -- the student his daughter allegedly visited before she went missing.

"I think he's a liar and a coward," Robert Spierer told the Journal News.

Rossman's lawyer, Carl Salzmann, has said his client has no memory of his last moments with Spierer because he was punched in an altercation that evening.

Robert Spierer told the newspaper the memory loss claim was "laughable" and a "statement of convenience."

In her letter, Charlene Spierer mentions five men who hired attorneys after Lauren's disappearance, saying they have refused to cooperate with police and will not submit to polygraph tests.

"Five young men, five attorneys," she wrote. "I'm still not sure why they felt it was necessary. I know hiring an attorney is not an admission of guilt, however it leads me to believe there was something to hide ... I wonder if you are among those who continue to refuse to cooperate with the Bloomington Police Department. You can well imagine, a year later, those conducting the investigation have more questions which need to be answered. And yet those that could help refuse to do so."

Lauren's family members created and maintain a website called findlauren.com. They are offering a $250,000 reward for information that leads to finding their daughter.

"You may or may not be a parent," Charlene Spierer wrote. "Somehow I doubt that you are a parent. I guarantee you have no idea what it's like, waiting to find out if the remains recovered from any number of places are those of your child. I hope I am making you uncomfortable. I hope you have as many sleepless nights as I have. I hope that someday, your parents, your siblings, your friends will all be in a courtroom when your true self is revealed, the self which was born on June 3, 2011 when you took Lauren from us."

Lauren Spierer is described as a white female who is 4-feet-11-inches with a slender build, blue eyes and blond hair. She was last wearing a white tank top with a light-colored shirt over it and black stretch pants. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Bloomington Police at 812-339-4477.

The complete text of Charlene Spierer's letter follows:

To Whom This May Concern:

It sickens me to write to you once again, but I have no choice. Time continues to pass and I cannot let you forget about Lauren. Rebecca recently said she holds close those people who knew Lauren. I realized in that moment that our lives will be forever defined as the time before Lauren disappeared and the time after. Another thing you and I share, the before and the after. For me, living without Lauren, it's the little things in my day-to-day life which are the most difficult. The things that aren't mentioned. Getting mail addressed to Lauren, walking past her room just as she left it the last time she was home, still waiting for her return. The unpacked boxes I cannot bear to move. The notice Rob has hidden away among so many other pieces of mail, from the Department of Motor Vehicles. It's Lauren's. It arrived shortly before her 21st birthday. We try to shield each other from more pain. It is impossible to do.

On June 4, 2011, we were hoping for Lauren's rescue. That’s what the Bloomington Police Department was hoping for as well. As time passed, we were hoping for Lauren's recovery. Today we are waiting to find out if the remains found in the White River belong to Lauren. We wait along with other families of missing loved ones. It could take as long as eight weeks. That's 80,640 minutes of agony. We are waiting to find out if a skull found in the White River might be Lauren's. It's chilling to say the words. I find it incomprehensible that if by chance you are reading this, you know the answer already. I recently read that the White River is 362 miles long. I am guessing that if you placed Lauren in a body of water, the current could have relocated her to another area. I can't say that I have read anything about decomposition or what might happen to a body that has been in water for over a year. Though this past year has taught me things I never would have expected to learn, decomposition is one area I refuse to explore. Lauren's DNA and dental records are on file with CODIS. "CODIS is the acronym for the "Combined DNA Index System" and is the generic term used to describe the FBI's program of support for criminal justice DNA databases as well as the software used to run those databases. The National DNA Index System or NDIS is considered one part of CODIS, the national level, containing the DNA profiles contributed by federal, state, and local participating forensic laboratories." We continue to wait for the results from the Marion County coroner's office.

You may or may not be a parent. Somehow I doubt that you are a parent. I guarantee you have no idea what it’s like, waiting to find out if the remains recovered from any number of places are those of your child. I hope I am making you uncomfortable. I hope you have as many sleepless nights as I have. I hope that some day, your parents, your siblings, your friends will all be in a courtroom when your true self is revealed, the self which was born on June 3, 2011 when you took Lauren from us.

We were shocked when several people hired attorneys within days of Lauren's disappearance. Five young men, five attorneys. I'm still not sure why they felt it was necessary. I know hiring an attorney is not an admission of guilt, however it leads me to believe there was something to hide. Questions remain unanswered and law enforcement polygraphs remain untaken. We are still without Lauren. Did you hire an attorney? I wonder if you are among those who continue to refuse to cooperate with the Bloomington Police Department. You can well imagine, a year later, those conducting the investigation have more questions which need to be answered. And yet those that could help, refuse to do so. Who are you? Did you go on any searches? Maybe you were no longer in Bloomington as thousands helped look for Lauren. Did you use Lauren's disappearance to your advantage? Have we met? Time will tell. So many questions. I will never forgive those who could have helped and did not. Though I doubt my sentiments matter to you, I will never forget you for as long as I live. I hope that every time you look into a mirror you remember the choices you made on June 3, 2011. I hope with every breath you take, you remember Lauren.

We are grateful to all those who continue to make sure Lauren's tragic story stays alive. There are many who stand beside us in our quest for answers. No matter what happened on June 3, 2011, the fact that Lauren seemingly vanished into thin air is undeniable and for that you are responsible. I trust that Lauren will have her day and justice will be served. Until that time, we remain steadfast in our search for answers which will lead us to Lauren.

Charlene Spierer

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/lauren-spierer-charlene-spierer-letter_n_1738169.html

Police: Suspicious Man With Guns Found Watching Bar
Man Asked Questions About Lauren Spierer, Police Say

POSTED: 10:58 am EDT August 8, 2012
UPDATED: 10:40 pm EDT August 8, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The questioning of a suspicious man who was found in a Bloomington parking garage with two handguns and a shotgun has ignited a firestorm in the wake of recent mass shootings.

Police were called to the garage across from Kilroy's Sports Bar on Saturday night on a report of a suspicious man on the third level.

The 56-year-old Indianapolis man was found to have a loaded semi-automatic handgun in each pocket, a loaded shotgun in the trunk of his car and a digital rangefinder, police said.

He told police that it was 66 yards from his position to the front door of Kilroy's and that he had been watching people come and go all evening.

The man also asked officers several questions about missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer, who was at the sports bar the night she disappeared, and claimed he had met her two years ago at a shooting range, police said.

"He made some odd statements that were of concern to the officers, even making reference to the ongoing investigation of the Lauren Spierer case," said Bloomington police Capt. Joe Qualters. "At that time, he was brought to the Bloomington Police Department and was interviewed."

Detectives focusing on the Spierer investigation questioned the man, but they said he had no additional knowledge of the 20-year-old's disappearance.

The man was taken to Bloomington Hospital for a mental health evaluation and was placed on a 24-hour emergency hold, police said.

After the man told police that he had several other guns at his home in Indianapolis, detectives searched the house and found 48 more weapons, including handguns, rifles and shotguns, police said.

The man was not arrested and had a permit to carry a handgun. Police said the man cooperated with officers.

Some have questioned why the man was detained if he was not creating a problem and was legally allowed to carry the guns.

But others, including the editorial staff at the newspaper, praised police for their handling of the situation.

"Would it have been better for police to leave him alone as he looked down on the front door of a popular bar with a rangefinder and guns? After other recent high-profile mass shootings? You’ve got to be kidding," the paper said in an editorial. "Perhaps this guy had no ill intent, but his actions were suspicious enough for police to get involved. They may have saved some lives."

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/31340905/detail.html

OFFICIALS: Skull found in White River is not Lauren Spierer's

Posted: Aug 10, 2012 3:30 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 10, 2012 3:56 PM CDT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A skull found in the White River in Indianapolis last month did not belong to a missing Indiana University student, according to the Marion County Coroner's Office.

Officials were investigating to see if the skull belonged to Lauren Spierer, who was last seen in June 2011 after a night out with friends in Bloomington.

A tooth from the skull was compared to the IU student's dental records.

"The Forensic Anthropologist was able to determine that the skull has characteristics consistent with those of an East or Southeast Asian male," a press release from the Marion County Coroner's Office states. "Given this information, we are able to rule out that the skull is that of missing IU student Lauren Spierer. We will extract DNA from the skull to further assist in the identification of the decedent."

http://www.wdrb.com/story/19249492/officials-skull-found-in-white-river-is-not-lauren-spierers

Spierer family hopes ring prompts new tips

Posted: Aug 28, 2012 7:30 PM CDT
Updated: Aug 28, 2012 7:31 PM CDT



Image of ring, similar to one that family
believes Lauren Spierer wore before she
disappeared in June 2011. Image from
family Facebook page.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The family of missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer has posted online a photo of a ring similar to one they believe she was wearing the night she disappeared from Bloomington, Ind., in June of last year.

A family Facebook page that publicizes the search said, "Lauren was wearing a ring similar to this one the night she disappeared. It was a gift for her 20th Birthday. Anything small could lead to answers. If you have any information about Lauren's disappearance please contact us."

Spierer was 20 when she was reported missing June 3, 2011, after a night out with friends at a popular club in Bloomington.

Her disappearance garnered national attention; thousands of volunteers spent last summer and fall searching the area for any clues to her whereabouts. They found very little, if anything.

Spierer's face is shown on flyers still posted in the Bloomington area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Bloomington, Ind., police.

http://www.wdrb.com/story/19401451/spierer-family-hopes-ring-prompts-new-tips

Lauren Spierer: Police investigate rape attempt near Indiana University for possible link

11:26 PM, Sep 5, 2012
Written by Lee Higgins

BLOOMINGTON, IND. — Bloomington police are investigating whether an attempted rape early Monday near the Indiana University campus has any connection to the case of missing IU student Lauren Spierer.


Sketch of attacker

Police released a sketch Tuesday of a man they said attacked a 21-year-old woman Monday near Seventh and Grant streets while she was walking home from Kilroy’s on Kirwood, a bar near campus.

The victim sprayed the attacker in the eyes with pepper spray and got away, police said in a news release.

Bloomington police Capt. Joe Qualters said that “we have no direct knowledge that this would have any connection” to the case of 20-year-old Lauren Spierer of Greenburgh, “but obviously it is something that’s being reviewed by those investigators.”

Spierer had been drinking at Kilroy’s the morning she disappeared June 3, 2011.

About 1:50 a.m. Monday, a man approached the woman as she was walking home from Kilroy’s on Kirkwood and asked for directions, police said in the release. As the woman tried to walk away, the man pulled her hair and tried to take her to the ground, pulling down her leggings and underwear.

According to police, the victim sprayed him in the eyes with pepper spray and found a couple walking in the area who helped her call police. The victim had a cut on her neck and welt on her forehead, the release said.

The attacker was described as white, in his 40s, wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans. He had short brown matted hair and a “rough complexion,” police said. Police said the victim does not recall the attacker having a weapon.

Anyone with information can call Bloomington police at 812-339-4477.

http://www.lohud.com/article/20120906/NEWS02/309060059/Lauren-Spierer-Police-investigate-rape-attempt-near-Indiana-University-possible-link?nclick_check=1

Lauren Spierer disappearance remains in national spotlight

11/12/2012
Missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer
still hasn't been found. Her case is verging a year and a half old with
no evidence making headlines since the early days of her disappearance.
With there not being much in line of investigative updates in her case,
it's fortunate that her parents are not relenting in their search for
answers. All-too-often do cases like these slip through the cracks when
there is a lack of official updates. Lauren's case is becoming a cold
case, which was a fear expressed in a Huffington Post article I wrote several months ago.

Charlene and Rob Spierer are doing the best they can to keep her
story in headlines, but without the help of officials this effort will
only get so much attention. Officials in Bloomington, Indiana need to
address the lack of updates in this tragic case and let the public know
what they are doing to find Lauren Spierer. In the meantime, the missing IU coed's parents will be appearing on Katie Couric's program to discuss her case.

Rob and Charlene will tape the segment on Monday, but it may not air until sometime next week. Katie Couric
will help gain some attention in this high profile case that is
dwindling in the attention it has garnered. Hopefully the person(s)
responsible for Lauren's disappearance will begin to feel the heat
applied to them again, and something will come of this appearance. It's
hopeful that every ounce of attention given to her disappearance may
lead in finding out what happened to her.
http://www.examiner.com/article/lauren-spierer-disappearance-remains-national-spotlight

Parents of Missing College Student Lauren Spierer Claim That They Have Been Stonewalled by Her Friends

1:51 pm ET December 5, 2012

VIDEO AT LINK

The parents of missing college student Lauren Spierer claim that they are being stonewalled by the friends who were with her on the night that she went missing. Indiana authorities say that they are still actively investigating the 20-year-old girl’s disappearance. Spierer, a student at Indiana University, was last seen early the morning of June 3, 2011 after being out with friends.

Tamara Holder argued on today’s America’s Newsroom that while she understands the frustration Spierer’s parents must feel, the kids “don’t have any duty to tell the parents what happened.”

Defense Attorney Keith Sullivan countered that he would advise Spierer’s parents to go one step further by publicly naming specific individuals who they believe are withholding information. “Put some social pressure on those individuals,” he said.

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/12/05/parents-of-missing-college-student-lauren-spierer-claim-that-they-have-been-stonewalled-by-her-friends/

Quote from above: [Tamara Holder argued on today’s America’s Newsroom that while she understands the frustration Spierer’s parents must feel, the kids “don’t have any duty to tell the parents what happened.”]

In my day it was called "Moral Duty" or "Moral Responsibility". How sad for Lauren's parents to not know what happened.

Defendants: Spierer's parents can't prove Lauren's dead
Attorneys say suit should be thrown out

Posted: 07/25/2013

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - All three of the men facing a civil lawsuit from the family of Lauren Spierer want a federal judge to dismiss the case, arguing the Spierers can’t prove that the missing IU student has been injured or is dead.

The attorneys for Jason Rosenbaum, Michael Beth and his roommate Corey Rossman filed the motions Thursday in U.S. Federal Court in Indianapolis.

Beth’s attorney argues in the filing that the suit should be thrown out because there is no proof of Lauren’s death.

“Simply put Plaintiffs cannot prove that Spierer was injured or killed,” attorney Greg Garrison wrote.

Garrison further argues that Spierer’s two-year absence is not enough to presume she is dead. Indiana law requires a person to be “inexplicably absent for a continuous period of seven years” to be presumed dead.

Rossman's attorney and Rosenbaum's attorney included the same defense in their responses.

Lauren Spierer was last seen after a night of drinking in June 2011.

At the time of the disappearance, Beth was the roommate of Rossman, a friend of Spierer’s who was drinking with her that night. Rossman admits to buying Spierer "several" drinks between 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.

Beth’s attorneys also argue he had no duty to protect Spierer, even though he observed her to be extremely intoxicated that night.

Rossman's legal team said their client was not legally required to escort Spierer home or keep her from leaving the apartment.

"Plaintiffs will likely argue that because of the alleged level of Spierer's intoxication Rossman should have taken her home instead of taking her to his residence," Rossman's attorneys wrote. "However, there is a distinction under the law between saying that a person should do something and saying that a person has a legal duty to do something."

Rosenbaum's attorney said that to require legal duty on Rosenbaum once Spierer left his home to ensure the return to her apartment was contrary to Indiana law.

Beth claims he tried to get Spierer to sleep on the couch at his apartment that night after she returned from the bar, believing she was extremely drunk.

When she refused, he escorted her to the apartment of Rosenbaum.

Rosenbaum has told authorities that Spierer later left his apartment by herself in the early morning hours. She has not been seen since.

Spierer’s parents filed the wrongful death suit against the Beth, Rossman and Rosenbaum on May 30 in Monroe County, just before the two-year statute of limitations would have expired.

The suit was transferred to federal court in June.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/defendent-spierers-parents-cant-prove-laurens-dead

Read the Spierers' lawsuit here:  http://bit.ly/1c6AUpj


Read Michael Beth's response here:  http://bit.ly/11hd1GR


Read Corey Rossman's response here:  http://bit.ly/11hded6


Read Jason Rosenbaum's response here:  http://bit.ly/1aLQ41A

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/defendent-spierers-parents-cant-prove-laurens-dead