Nearly 5 years later, still no answers in Spierer case
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) – June 3 marks five years since Indiana University student Lauren Spierer disappeared, the story made national headlines and she is still missing.
Lee Mysliwiec has lived in Bloomington for 30 years, and every now and then he thinks about what happened.
“Hey honey, where are you my sweet girl? I miss you so desperately,” Charlene Spierer said.
“Every time they find a body, you hope it’s Lauren. They find bodies, you know every now and then they find a body and it’s never her,” Mysliwiec said.
Spierer vanished on June 3, 2011. Police said she disappeared after a night of partying with friends at a local bar. The case sent shockwaves through the country.
“I was nervous, but I also felt like I had good mentors and I had a good community at IU coming in.” Dotson said. Bridgett Dotson was a senior in high school at the time, and just months away from enrolling at IU.
Police said Spierer was last seen leaving a friend’s place, They said she left alone and was walking back to her apartment when something happened. For weeks the whole town searched, the school held vigils and her parents desperately pleaded for answers.
“Hey honey, where are you my sweet girl? I miss you so desperately,” Charlene Spierer said in a YouTube message at the time
Weeks became months, months became years. And still, nothing.
Now, nearly five years later in her front of her apartment, which was ground zero for search parties, there are no signs and no national news media trucks. In fact, if you didn’t know what happened here nearly five years ago, you would never know.
Bloomington police declined to comment about the case on camera but did send 24-Hour News 8 the following statement.
“Lauren’s disappearance has never been considered or labeled a ‘cold case’ by the department.”
“Even though it has been over 4.5 years since Lauren disappeared, the case continues to be a priority for the investigators assigned and there is work being done on the case literally every day. The investigation into Lauren’s disappearance has never been considered or labeled a ‘cold case’ by the department.”
“I think it kind of changes the way everyone goes out obviously you have to be more cautious and not be by yourself ever,” Bloomington Resident Emily Robertson said.
The story hits closer to home for Mysliwiec. He’s a father to a 30-year-old daughter.
“I’m sure they want to just know, where she is. Dead or alive, I can’t imagine a parent not knowing where their child is, I just can’t imagine that,” Mysliwiec said.
It’s been nearly five years, hopefully for the Spierer family, an answer will come soon.
