What happened to Indiana University student Lauren Spierer?
What have we learned in the ten years since she disappeared?
And who might have been involved on the night she went missing?
Lauren Spierer vanished without a trace in the early morning hours of June 3, 2011.
According to reports, she was last seen at approximately 4:30 a.m. in downtown Bloomington,
Indiana.
Earlier that evening, shortly after midnight, Spierer and David Rohn left Lauren's apartment
to meet up with some of their friends.
They reportedly went to Jay Rosenbaum's residence at the 5 North Townhomes, to meet with Rosenbaum,
Corey Rossman, and fellow student Mike Beth.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., Spierer and Rossman left Rosenbaum's home and went to Kilroy's
Sports Bar.
They left the bar at approximately 2:25 a.m., with Lauren accidentally leaving her shoes
and phone in the establishment.
They started walking to the Smallwood Plaza Apartments, where Lauren lived, sometime between
2:30 and 2:42 a.m up on the 5th floor, Rossman allegedly said something smart to a group
of fellow students.
One of the students decks Rossmman, and he later claims no memory of the evening as a
result of the attack.
Surveillance cameras recorded Spierer and Rossman walking back toward the 5 North Townhomes
between 2:48 and 2:51 a.m.
Reports suggest that Spierer was heavily intoxicated and fell on multiple occasions.
Her purse and keys were later found in an alley.
Once there, Mike Beth reportedly took Rossman to his room and put him to bed.
Spierer, however, returned to Jay Rosenbaum's home, two doors down from Beth's.
She allegedly wanted to continue drinking, and eventually left his townhome at 4:30 a.m.
and began walking east on 11th Street.
"The last time she was seen alive is exactly where we’re standing."
Widespread social media attention led to an extensive ground search by volunteers and
local police.
Based on an anonymous tip, Indiana State Excise police searched Lake Monroe for clues, but
divers found no evidence whatsoever.
On June 9, 2011, the Spierer family offered a $100,000 award for the safe return of their
daughter.
Authorities announced that they had identified 10 "persons of interest" in Lauren's disappearance.
Corey Rossman and Mike Beth were asked to submit DNA samples to rule them out as possible
suspects.
Spierer's disappearance was also featured on "America's Most Wanted" on June 11, 2011.
Authorities said they received approximately 350 tips after the program aired.
Unfortunately, none of the tips led to the discovery of Spierer's whereabouts or the
identification of a suspect.
Up to 1,000 people a day were reportedly searching for Lauren in Bloomington, Indiana, and the
surrounding area.
Throughout June of 2011, authorities revealed more details about the morning Spierer vanished,
including maps, enhanced surveillance images, and a detailed timeline.
They also continued questioning Lauren's friends and her boyfriend, Jesse Wolff, who was reportedly
not present when she disappeared.
Indiana University also increased the reward for information leading to Spierer's location
or an arrest in her abduction by $50,000.
Between June and July, authorities and volunteers searched the Hoosier National Forest and the
Sycamore Ridge Landfill.
However, nothing of significance was found.
Jay Rosenbaum was the last known person to see Lauren Spierer alive.
Amid the ongoing investigation, he cooperated with authorities and consented to take a polygraph
examination, which he passed, according to reports.
By early 2012, the reward offered for information in the case was increased to $250,000.
The bodies of several other women were found in the months and years after Spierer vanished,
but Lauren's disappearance has remained a mystery.
Fox59 reports the searches were eventually called off and the tips dwindled.
However, authorities are hesitant to declare it a cold case.
Spierer's parents contend that Jay Rosenbaum, Corey Rossman, and Kilroys' Sports Bar, were
all negligent on the morning their daughter vanished.
In their opinion, Rosenbaum, Rossman, and the bar's staff knew Spierer was intoxicated
and had a "duty of care" to make sure she was safe.
There are some prevailing theories as to what may have actually happened to Lauren.
Most people reportedly believe the 20-year-old student was abducted by a stranger.
However, there are several other possibilities.
Lauren Spierer's boyfriend, Jesse Wolff, was not present when she went missing.
However, it has been suggested that he had something to do with her disappearance.
As reported by Talk Murder to Me, some people have suggested the group of men who attacked
Corey Rossman outside the Smallwood Plaza Apartments were sent by Wolff.
Other theories suggest Wolff may have abducted her himself.
Per USA Today, Wolff refused to take a polygraph test administered by the Bloomington Police
Department.
However, his parents contend he passed a polygraph test administered by a third party.
USA Today reports that Spierer and Wolff exchanged text messages in the hours prior to her vanishing.
According to Wolff, Spierer told him she was at home and going to bed.
Instead, she and David Rohn left for a night of drinking.
Talk Murder to Me reported that Lauren Spierer had been diagnosed with a rare heart condition
and her doctors had warned her against using alcohol and drugs.
However, in an interview with police, Jay Rosenbaum said that in addition to drinking
on the night of her disappearance, Spierer allegedly snorted Klonopin and cocaine.
Speaking to USA Today, Jesse Wolff's mother, Nadine, alleged that Spierer's drug and alcohol
use would often lead her to experience blackouts.
"I think she didn't make wise choices that night.
But she didn't make herself disappear."
One theory that has persisted through the years is that Spierer either overdosed or
had a medical emergency related to her heart condition.
Talk Murder to Me reports that some people believe Spierer's death was accidental, and
that her body was disposed of because her friends feared they'd be implicated in her
death.
However, there is the very real chance that Spierer was abducted by a stranger.
As she was petite and was severely intoxicated, authorities said she was especially vulnerable.
Per the Daily Mail, Spierer's parents refuted reports that their daughter was a drug addict,
and said there was no evidence she used drugs on the night she vanished.
They also allegedly believe that their daughter's friends know more than they are saying.
For now, her disappearance remains a mystery.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact
SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).