New book about missing IU student Lauren Spierer reveals new evidence

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — In the summer of 2011, missing 20-year-old Lauren Spierer's name and story captivated America.

Strangers flocked to Indiana University's campus in Bloomington to look for any trace of what might have happened to the New York native.

Her parents pleaded for answers.

"We're really ready to go home. We, just Lauren, we need our daughter," Charlene Spierer said in August 2011.

Nancy Grace put out a call for help and author Nicholas Sparks offered free signed books just for a retweet about her with #Find Lauren.

"Someone knows what happened to her that night," Robert Spierer said in August 2011.

Thousands of missing posters were scattered throughout Bloomington, but nothing — there was no trace of Spierer.

In the days after her disappearance, Bloomington Police released a photo of Spierer from her apartment complex surveillance.

She left for a night out with her friends and was last seen alive around 4:30 in the morning June 3.

"It was kind of nuts in those early days," reporter Shawn Cohen said.

Cohen at the time worked for a paper in Spierer's hometown just north of New York City.

"One of her friends reached out to me and at the paper and said she was missing," Cohen said.

And like many journalists, he made the trip to Indiana University to investigate.

He was one of the first to report Lauren Spierer had been mixing drugs and alcohol that night.

"The family was, was very upset with me. And they said, 'leave it, leave it to the police. It's the police's job to investigate.' And they essentially thought that it was victim blaming, in some ways to, to talk about the details leading up to her disappearance," Cohen said.

The Spierer family eventually warmed to him, though, because of his dedication to stay on the story.

Six years ago, the Spierer family gave Cohen their blessing to write a book about the case.

"My great hope is that people will pay attention to where the case is now. And that there could be some real breaks," Cohen said.

For the book, "College Girl, Missing: The True Story of How a young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight" Cohen interviewed dozens of friends, witnesses and former Bloomington Police officers.

"You learn a lot about the relationships, and yes, there were a lot of inconsistencies in their statements," Cohen said.

Cohen uncovered for the first time that Corey Rossman, the man Lauren Spierer was with most of the night, made a phone call around 3 a.m. as Lauren Spierer could barely stand and had to be carried from one place to the next.

"I was surprised by the 3 a.m. phone call. And it was quite interesting to confront the person he called," Cohen said.

But Rossman, and the old friend on the other end of the line, deny any memory of the call.

Jay Rosenbaum was also with Lauren Spierer that night. His townhome is where Spierer reportedly ended up before Rosenbaum said she demanded to walk home.

He was the last person to see her alive and has never spoken to the media, until Cohen.

"To go at those individuals, ask unanswered questions and work my way toward some of the final people who were with her, that I can confront them," Cohen said.

Rosenbaum maintained his innocence and offered the theory that someone else must have taken her.

But unlike a fictional mystery novel, this 225-page narrative doesn't reveal who did it.

"It's about fulfilling a responsibility, really, to everyone who participated in this book. They did so hoping that the real story of that night would would finally be told."

The ending, even 13 years later, remains the same — a mystery.

Spierer's mom, Charlene, since the beginning has maintained a Facebook page called Official Lauren Spierer Updates from Her Family. Each year, there's a new post on Spierer's birthday and anniversary she went missing.

Monday, in the 13th anniversary of her disappearance post she wrote about being exhausted waiting for answers. "Knowing that there is not a single piece of evidence is exhausting. Knowing that Lauren’s case hinges on hearsay is exhausting," the Facebook post said.

The page also recognized the new book. "I can’t say it wasn’t difficult to read because it was. Most things we knew. Some things we did not," the post said. "Thank you, Shawn, for using your skills as a writer, for being a reminder that there is a girl who seemingly did disappear in plain sight. A girl who is still missing, someone who knows the truth, a family who is still waiting."

To find the book, "College Girl, Missing: The True Story of How a young Woman Disappeared in Plain Sight," click here.

There are several ways to submit tips about the case. You can call the Bloomington Police Department Tipline (812) 339-4477. People can also email the family's private investigator Michael Ciravolo at Mike@investigations.com.

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