The search to #FindLauren continues to inspire campus safety

Today is the first of two sessions of "Self-Defense for Spierer" hosted at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. This event is sponsored by the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, the Department of Campus Safety, Active Minds at Muhlenberg and the Peer Health Advocates at Muhlenberg.

The event is aimed to increase funds for the search to #FindLauren and hopes to raise awareness for women on the Muhlenberg College campus about safety. 

Organizers tell the Spierer family, "Our community is thinking of Lauren everyday."

The next session will be held on March 19. 

Spierer family statement regarding reward increase

Released Friday, February 24, 2012

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"Our daughter Lauren Spierer, an Indiana University student, disappeared June 3, 2011 in Bloomington, IN.  We continue to seek information, which will lead us to finding Lauren and the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.  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

University of Michigan college student motivated to do more

A University of Michigan student decided she would raise funds for the search to #FindLauren. Every day, more and more people continue to find ways to help bring Lauren home. 


"I could not help but think how easily this could happen to one of my sisters, friends, or to myself. As a Greek community of college women I know that our contributions could significantly support the Spierers. Funds will be donated to the family to assist in the investigation that we hope will ultimately bring those responsible for this heartbreaking crime to justice. Assuming that on average there are 180 girls in each chapter, even if half of the women in each chapter donated $2 (probably less than you spend on your favorite Starbuck’s drink!) a check for almost $3,000 would be able to be written to the Spierers. Could you imagine if we got the support of every sister campus wide? Donating and spreading the word supports the Spierers tremendously, and helps to ensure a similar tragedy does not take place on our own campus. Keep yourself and your sisters safe by walking home in groups and be conscious of crime alerts taking place in Ann Arbor and on campus." 

Spierer family releases statement regarding the removal of #FindLauren off Indiana University homepage.

Lauren's once prominent banner on the Indiana University website homepage was months ago,reduced to a button and now Indiana University plans to only post the link to Lauren's information on the home page the first week of every month. It will appear only randomly, thereafter. While there is no direct link on the homepage, Lauren's information will remain on the Protect IU page indefinitely. We are disappointed by this decision, as we hope to obtain information from the IU community which will lead us to Lauren. We are still determined to do everything in our power to find our daughter. Robert Spierer

December events planned to #FindLauren.

As we approach the six month mark, many supporters continue to plan awareness events to #FindLauren. Here are current events planned for December. 


Saturday, December 3
What: Support the Spierers
Where: Kickoff at Smallwood Plaze, Support & Prayer tree at Fountain Square Mall
About: A prayer and support tree will be placed at Fountain Square Mall. Supporters are asked to leave a note/card on the tree to support the Spierer family during the month of December.
Facebook Event Page


Sunday, December 11
What: Safety For Spierer
Where: Kimmel Center's Pavilion, 10th floor- NYU
About: Experience a self-defense class with expert Gabrielle Rubin from the organization Female Awareness to raise money for the search to #FindLauren. 
Facebook Event Page

Tuesday, December 20
What: Luminaries For Lauren
Where: Smallwood Plaza from 7 - 8:30 p.m.
About: Luminaries for Lauren will be lit starting on December 20 and will remain through the Jewish Holiday until December 27. Let's light the way for Lauren to come home.
Needs: Volunteers for 12/26 still needed. 
Facebook Event Page


If you are have additional details or an event you'd like us to cover, send an email to newsonlaurens@gmail.com. 

A look back at supporter DJ Martin's run!

Read about DJ's race here.

Thanks again, DJ. We are so grateful for all you've done.

"Help us find the answers and the posters will come down."

Shortly after the disappearance of Lauren Spierer, a number of Facebook groups were formed to help support the efforts to #FindLauren. After five months, many have since changed their focus or deleted the groups entirely due to lack of focus and power struggles. However, one group of advocates continued to remain focused in the search to #Find Lauren and facilitate a positive influence to support the group.

The Facebook group Voices for Lauren was created on July 7 with a mission to "help spread the word and contribute to the efforts to find Lauren Spierer."

"Many groups were formed to speculate, talk theory, point fingers, engage in accusatory statements, but we made sure to lay down the law early on and remain consistent in managing the group," Administrator Mary Ann Ryan said.

With over 133 members, the administrators clearly identified guidelines such as rule number 2, "Positivity- The Spierer's do not wish to see negativity. It hurts their feelings and we sympathize with them. Therefore, let us try to be positive, hopeful and thoughtful."


"These rules are really important. Not only do they need to be clearly stated, they needed to be enforced. Facebook can grow out of control rather quickly. We made sure we created a safe place for the Spierer's to stop in and see a place of support and creating these rules were vital, " said Ryan.

Voices for Lauren continued to brainstorm on ways to help after 5 months. After a recently published response from Charlene Spierer, members of the group created P.U.M.P. (Put Up More Posters) for Lauren. Devoted member Kristen Mills came up with the idea and immediately saw the event go viral.

"We are so excited that the IDS News covered the event beforehand. The community was supporting our effort to get back out there and remind everyone that someone still knows something and no one is going to quit until the Spierer's get answers," said another administrator Joe Bailey. "Today, we had great coverage from WTHR and Fox59 was here most of the day!"

Hundreds of new posters were posted on Saturday thanks to P.U.M.P.

"I didn't know the Spierer's before Lauren's disappearance, but I am a mom and every parent deserves to know the truth. We won't quit supporting them until they get the truth," said Ryan. "In the middle of all this chaos though I am reminded what an amazing group of people that have come together for one purpose- to help strangers in a time of need. We have been blessed with such a strong and caring group, and for that, I will always be grateful."

For more information about the group or to joins, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/VoicesForLauren/.

WTHR's coverage of P.U.M.P.
Lauren Moccio's coverage on Gather.com