Bloomington police interested in vehicle, expanding interviews in search for Lauren

Capt. Joe Qualters said at least one vehicle has come to the attention of the Bloomington Police Department in their search for Lauren Spierer, a 20-year-old IU student who has been missing since June 3.

The vehicle or the person driving is not a suspect, Qualters stressed at Monday’s press conference. BPD is currently in the process of enhancing a video that captured footage near the intersection where Lauren was last seen (11th Street and College Avenue) so they can provide a better description of the car or cars to the public.

BPD isn’t sure if it is one vehicle or two vehicles that they are looking at, and they are hoping to figure that out through the video enhancement. Once they know more about the video, they hope to release those details to the public.

Qualters said the vehicle they have on video may have driven around the block because they know something or because they did something. BPD doesn’t know yet.

“This is a person that very well might have information that might lead to Lauren,” Qualters said.

He also said BPD is trying to provide a map or visual aid that would give the public a better understanding of where Lauren was last seen on video the morning she disappeared. They hope to have that aid complete by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Qualters also said investigators flew over the Bloomington area yesterday looking at water ways, railroad tracks and roof tops. This is a secondary search to make sure BPD has covered their bases, Qualters said.

The fly-over also allowed BPD to take photos and see a different view of the area. Qualters said he expects there will be additional fly overs.

As investigators enter their second week of the investigation, BPD is also beginning to interview a secondary tier of individuals who might be friends or associates of Lauren.

“Early on in this investigation, the number 10 was floated as the number of persons of interest,” Qualters said. “That may have been an initial number. Keep in mind that’s a number that changes every day.”

A national search expert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has also joined the search. Texas EquuSearch, a national search group known for their enhanced technical equipment and use of horses, also joined the search efforts Sunday.

“We feel as strong today in our pursuit to find her as we were a week ago,” Lauren’s father Robert Spierer said as he thanked the many volunteers. “We wake up each morning knowing our task for the day is to find my daughter.”

Searches continue at 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. at Eighth Street and College Avenue. Robert Spierer reminded volunteers not to search alone and to wear appropriate clothing.

“I hope and pray that you are never on this side of the camera,” Lauren’s mother Charlene Spierer told people following the search. “To anyone who has information on Lauren, what are you waiting for?”

If anyone has any information, please call the Bloomington Police Department at 812-339-4477 or America’s Most Wanted at 800-CRIMETV.