Lauren Spierer Search Expands via Social Media

By Eryn Sun, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, June 09, 2011

The search for Lauren Spierer, a missing Indiana University student, has gone viral, spurring on social media efforts throughout the world to find her.

Having been missing for nearly a week now, close friends and family of the 20-year-old have used networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to draw attention to the search and get the word out quickly.

Over 20 Facebook groups were created for the missing IU student, garnering prayer support and donations. Volunteer search groups were also organized all throughout the city.

According to NY Patch, “Spierer” has become a hot trending topic across three continents, in North America, England and Australia.

A Twitter page created @NewsOnLaurenS currently has more than 13,000 followers including celebrities like Lady Gaga, Ryan Seacrest, Kim Kardashian, Wyclef Jean, and Anderson Cooper, who have re-tweeted information and photos of Spierer, encouraging followers to follow suit.

Spierer was last seen on Friday, June 3, leaving an apartment building a few blocks away from her home around 4:30 a.m., heavily intoxicated, without shoes or a phone.

She was previously seen at Kilroy’s Sports Bar in Bloomington, only a block and a half away from her home, where her phone and shoes were later discovered.

Through reviewing surveillance video obtained from Spierer’s Smallwood Plaza apartment, investigators stated that the missing sophomore student did in fact return home briefly at around 2:40 a.m. with a “male friend” later identified as Corey Rossman, a fellow IU student, before allegedly heading out again to his apartment.

Rossman told police that Spierer left at 4:30 a.m., and that he watched her walk away to make sure she was okay. He has already taken a lie detector test.

New information has been revealed that he was also involved in a fight that night, which he does not remember at all, according to his lawyer Carl Salzmann as stated in the Bloomington Herald-Times.

Security cameras caught several unidentified males and Rossman engaging in an altercation at 2:40 a.m., though Spierer was said not to have been involved, according to the Indiana Daily Student.

CNN reports that Kilroy’s Sports Bar is under investigation by Indiana State Excise Police as a result of the disappearance and will be questioned about whether or not the underage Spierer was served alcohol at the establishment.

Spierer’s parents have flown in from New York to search for their missing daughter. Her father is offering a $100,000 reward for anyone who comes forward with information leading to her discovery.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay also added a $10,000 reward of his own, and the owners of Spierer’s apartment complex, John and Kara Jacobs, matched the same amount as well.

Additionally, Bloomington attorney Ken Nunn added to the reward $25,000 on Thursday, according to WISHTV8, making the grand total $145,000.

Spierer’s best friend, Becca Lefkowitz, told ABC that Spierer suffers from Long QT Syndrome, which is a heart rhythm disorder that can cause uncontrollable and dangerous arrhythmias.

Lefkowitz also stated that the family is in “complete shock” and wants to wake up from the “nightmare.”

At a press conference Thursday morning, Bloomington Police Department Lt. Bill Parker offered no further revelations on the case. They expect “foul play” was involved in the disappearance.

Though they have received “hundreds of tips,” there has been nothing substantial as of yet and no suspects have been identified currently, although some people have been questioned. Police are expected to expand their hunt outside of the city.

Spierer was last seen on 11th St. and College Ave. in Bloomington, walking south on College, wearing a white tank top, a loose, light-colored button shirt and full-length black stretch pants.

She is 4’11”, weighs between 90 and 100 pounds, and has blue eyes and blonde hair just below the shoulder.

“It’s critical that we focus on finding Lauren,” father Robert Spierer stated at a news conference on Wednesday, according to NY Daily News. “We can’t stop.”