Police comb landfill for clues in Lauren Spierer case

PIMENTO, Ind. (WISH) - The investigation into the disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer is making headlines once again as Bloomington Police, Indiana State Police, the FBI and the Vigo County Sheriff’s office descend upon a landfill near Terre Haute.

24-Hour News 8’s sister station, WTHI, has spotted Indiana State Police and Vigo County Sheriff’s Department vehicles around the landfill. Hours later, Bloomington Police confirmed they were searching for clues in the disappearance of Lauren Spierer.

Bloomington Police say they are searching a 70’ X 120’ X 20’ area, or 168,000 cubic feet,  of the landfill and estimate it could take two weeks to complete the search.

A temporary flight restriction zone was enacted over the landfill, per the request of Lt. Bill Parker, the lead investigator in the case. The flight restrictions ban aircraft, including news media helicopters, from flying over the landfill at an altitude lower than 2,000 feet.

People on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter had been pushing the Bloomington Police Department to search the landfill in an effort to find Spierer, who disappeared June 3.

Police said in a news release Tuesday that they began preparing to search the landfill days after Spierer was reported missing. Police say they searched the dumpsters in the area where the IU Sophomore was last seen during their initial investigation.

Bloomington Police reached out to the trash companies that service Bloomington to determine what part of the landfill they should be searching. Republic Services then identified a specific location of the landfill where trash from Bloomington was dumped.

Police say that area of the landfill has been isolated and has not been touched since it was identified.

Spierer’s family released a statement thanking officers for searching.

“Please keep all the members of the Bloomington Police Department and all other law enforcement agencies who are assisting in this incredibly complex undertaking to search the landfill safe. With sincere thanks and appreciation for their continued support in our efforts to find Lauren.”
--Rob, Charlene and Rebecca Spierer
 

Check back with WISHTV.com for updates on the landfill search.