Nearly a week after Indiana University student Lauren Spierer was last seen by a male friend walking to her Bloomington apartment at 4:30 a.m., social media efforts spurred by the missing 20-year-old's friends and family have caused her disappearance to become household knowledge in three continents.
"Spierer" has become a trending topic on Twitter in North America, England and Australia, and prominent names such as Stephen Colbert, Lady Gaga, Scott Baio, Anderson Cooper, Kim Kardashian and Ryan Seacrest have re-tweeted information and photos of the petite blonde college student.
"Help find missing Indiana U student Lauren Spierer. For more info, go to iuhillel.org," tweeted Stephen Colbert on Thursday at 1 p.m.
Other celebrities such as Blake Sheldon have re-tweeted Spierer's pictur with the message "IU student Lauren Spierer MISSING. Pls print/post/share on social media sites," along with the hashtag #findlauren.
As of Thursday, 20 Facebook groups were dedicated toward prayer and search efforts. One group, "MISSING: LAUREN SPIERER," has gained over 10,200 members, many who are contributing search tips and mobilizing group efforts to canvass Bloomington.
The Indiana University Hillel has set up a donation page for search efforts, and Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising has contributed a billboard in Indianapolis with a picture of Spierer's face and the Bloomington Police Department's phone number below.
Spierer, a 20-year-old Edgemont native, has reportedly been missing since Friday, June 3at 4:30 a.m. The Indiana Daily Student, which published a timeline chronicling the period leading up to Spierer’s disappearance, states that Spierer was last seen by a fellow IU student, Corey Rossman, on the corner of 11th Street and College Avenue in Bloomington as she was leaving to go home to her apartment complex, Smallwood Plaza.
Surveillance cameras indicated that Spierer never made it home, and her keys were found several blocks away from her apartment.
Bloomington Police Lt. Bill Parker has stated to the public that while patrol currently has no leads, they do suspect “foul play.”
Spierer's parents are offering a $100,000 award to anyone who can offer clues about their daughter's whereabouts.
According to the Indiana Daily Student, Rossman and several unidentified males were caught on a security tape engaging in an altercation at 2:40 a.m. the morning Spierer disappeared. Police, however, said that Lauren was not involved in the altercation.
The Bloomington Police Department has received "hundreds of tips," according to Lt. Bill Parker, one which led divers to search the neighboring Lake Monroe Wednesday evening and Thursday.
Police say that no suspects have been identified, although they have questioned "persons of interest."
I wish I knew where the young lady was. I will pray for the family. She is a beautiful young lady and I hope she is found safe.
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