IU officials donate $50,000 to reward

Five senior IU administrators have donated a total of $50,000 in an effort to jump start the investigation into the disappearance of 20-year-old IU student and Bloomington resident Jill Behrman. The $50,000 donation will increase the reward for information concerning Behrman's case to $100,000. \nFBI and the Bloomington Police Department have been searching for Berhman since May 31 of last year, when she failed to return home after a routine morning bike ride. Her bicycle was found a few days later in a cornfield about 10 miles from where she was last seen.\nAt the urging of the FBI and BPD, friends of the Behrman family raised the additional money for the reward to draw out further information in the case.\nIU's Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations Christopher Simpson, the Behrman family spokesperson, said he is amazed at how the University has rallied behind the Behrman's in the search for Jill. Simpson said six weeks ago, the FBI called and said they thought it'd be helpful to increase the award amount.\n"(We) turned to five senior leaders of IU, and they all pledged the $50,000," he said. "I think it's extraordinary when you have a tragedy like this to see how the IU family pulls together."\nAccording to an IU press release, the offices of IU president Myles Brand, IU Bloomington Chancellor Kenneth Gros Louis, IU Foundation President Curt Simic, IU Alumni Association President Jerry Tardy and IU Athletics Director Clarence Doninger donated $10,000 each.\nJill's mother, Marilyn Behrman, said she hopes the reward will finally provide the incentive needed to bring forth the information she and her family so desperately need to know.\n"Jill is not just another missing person. Jill is my daughter, and I need to know where she is," Behrman said. "We are extremely grateful to our Indiana University community and friends, who have so generously provided the funds needed to increase Jill's reward fund today. We are blessed to have this constant support in our efforts to find Jill."\nFBI agent Gary Dunn said in a press release that the FBI and BPD will continue to investigate Jill's disappearance aggressively. \n"We continue to receive information on a daily basis and are confident that the investigation will result in bringing Jill home and determining who was responsible for her disappearance," he said. \nDunn said $50,000 of the reward will be provided to any individual who provides information as to Jill's current whereabouts. The remaining $50,000 will be provided to any individual providing specific information resulting in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Jill's disappearance.\nIf you have any information regarding Jill's disappearance, call the BPD at (812) 349-3313 or the FBI at (812) 332-9275.