No link found between missing University of Louisiana student and Lauren Spierer

Police in Lafayette, La., are currently investigating the May 19 disappearance of University of Louisiana-Lafayette student Michaela “Mickey” Shunick, 21, who was last seen riding her bicycle home from a friend’s house.

Bloomington Police Cpt. Joe Qualters said BPD contacted authorities in Louisiana. Despite some news accounts stating that Shunick’s disappearance has similarities to the June 2011 disappearance of IU student Lauren Spierer, Qualters said he does not believe there is a connection.

“The Bloomington Police Department did, in fact, make an inquiry of the Lafayette Police Department to discuss the circumstances related to their investigation due to the fact that both agencies are investigating the disappearance of a female college student,” Qualters said in a press release. “It should be noted that nothing of significance to the Spierer investigation came from the discussion held with police investigators in Louisiana.”

Cpt. Paul Mouton of the Lafayette, La., police department also told the Associated Press that investigators do not believe there are links between the Shunick investigation and Spierer investigation. Mouton did not release details that make authorities believe Shunick’s disappearance is unrelated to Spierer’s.

Mouton told the Associated Press that BPD initially contacted Lafayette detectives about Spierer’s disappearance because of similarities in the cases. Both women are university students and white with long, blonde hair.

Shunick’s bicycle was found Sunday in a swampy area 25 miles from Lafayette, La., but authorities did not find any other significant evidence leading to her whereabouts.

“The Bloomington Police Department has made inquiries of various law enforcement agencies over the course of the last year for such things as missing person investigations, unidentified bodies or suspects arrested by other jurisdictions for serious crimes,” Qualters said. “Inquiries such as those described will continue to be made if it appears that there is any potential to further this ongoing investigation.”

— Mark Keierleber