$250,000 Award for Leads in Spierer Case

There is now a substantial reward being offered to anyone who can help find Lauren Spierer. Spierer, as you likely know, is the 20-year-old Edgemont resident who went missing on June 3rd at Indiana University after a night out with friends. On Friday February 24th her family wrote the following on the Facebook page dedicated to the search for Lauren:

As a result of an extremely generous donation, the reward has been increased to $250,000.00. Anyone with information, that leads us to our daughter, will be eligible to receive the reward. You may contact Beau Dietl Associates at 1.800.777.9366, www.investigations.com or the Bloomington Police Department at (812)339-4477.

All information submitted that has a direct impact relative to finding Lauren will be evaluated. Information that is deemed credible and helps result in the resolution of this case will be awarded to the appropriate individuals from the total reward amount of $250,000.00.

We remain dedicated to finding our daughter. For more information about Lauren you can visit www.findlauren.com . We offer our sincere thanks for any information you can provide.

Rob and Charlene Spierer

In response to this substantial reward, the Bloomington Police issued this statement:

The Bloomington Police Department is aware that the family of Lauren Spierer is offering a reward for information that leads to her return and that hopefully leads to holding accountable anyone who may be responsible for her disappearance. The Department continues to actively investigate the case involving the disappearance of Lauren Spierer and requests that anyone with information contact the Bloomington Police Department at 812-339-4477. We will have no further release at this time.

I put a call into Beau Dietl and Associates earlier this week asking to speak to someone on the case. Either the receptionist was unaware of the case, or they are incredibly strict about press inquiries. I got a curt “No” and then a hang up. So far my email request for comment has gone unanswered.

In missing person cases, if the missing person was abducted by a stranger, a reward can be helpful. The reward can spur an angry family member, a friend or a local storeowner to report suspicious behavior that can be used to form a lead. In this case, it has been speculated that Lauren knew the people she was with when she was last seen -- and it was not a case of a stranger abduction. In Lauren’s case keeping the story in the public eye may be key.

In a booklet titled Missing Person Toolkit-The Kirsten Foundation, the Washington State Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Task Force offers a rather frightening and in-depth guide for families on what to do and how to deal when a loved one goes missing. In a recommendation on how to use the media they say, "Rewards can be helpful to generate leads and to create a news story. If you are planning to offer a sizeable reward, increase it incrementally to create an additional news story."

However, it goes on to warn: If you are successful about obtaining publicity about your missing person there might be some who will call seeking to exploit your situation. Be wary of those who demand money with a promise to find your missing person, including private investigators or psychics or most distressing, those who claim to be holding your person for ransom.

The Spierer’s have likely considered all of the scenarios and issues that could stem from this increase in the amount of the reward. The stress and pain that they have endured over the past several months must be unbearable. Regardless if the reward or any article written or news report filed will lead to answers about Lauren, it is important to show that she will not be forgotten, especially here.

Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.