BLOOMINGTON - Many people are opening up their wallets, hoping cash will motivate someone to come forward with clues in the case of missing Indiana University student Lauren Spierer.
"Anything small could be big, so speak up and contact Bloomington Police," says Spierer's father Robert.
If money talks, Lauren's family and several others are hoping a lot of it will motivate someone to do just that. "There is $100,000 for information leading to the return of Lauren," adds Spierer.
Lauren's parents have put up the greatest amount of money so far.
"We will be working and do whatever we have to do to find Lauren and bring her home," says Spierer.
A handful of other reward funds have been set up by others, including Bloomington attorney Ken Nunn. "As a parent and a grandparent, I cannot begin to imagine what this family's going through and so I want to help," says Nunn, explaining his motivation behind his reward.
Nunn is putting up $25,000 for the arrest and conviction of anyone who may have harmed Lauren. "I wanna catch these guys. I don't want 'em to do it again," says Nunn.
The owners of Smallwood Plaza, the apartments where Lauren stayed, have also set up a fund through Old National Bank. They've put up $10,000 and are encouraging others to donate.
Their reward money is aimed at generating new information about Lauren's disappearance.
"Offering $10,000 reward for serious info that solves Lauren's missing persons," said a tweet from the account of Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay.
"I have a daughter who's 11 and I just got to thinking that this could be anybody's daughter," says IU alum and Indianapolis realtor Andy Deemer. Deemer is also trying to find a local bank to start a fund and says he's willing to put up $1,000 of his own money.
He hopes others will donate. "Create an urgency. Get the word out that she needs to come home safe," says Deemer.
