BLOOMINGTON - The last person to reportedly see an IU student before her disappearance has submitted a DNA sample to police.
Accompanied by his attorney, Corey Rossman, one of the 10 persons of interest in the disappearance of Lauren Spierer, left the Bloomington Police Department after reportedly giving a DNA sample Friday.
"I just hope that they find her as soon as possible and I'm praying for her and her family," Rossman told Eyewitness News, also denying he had anything to do with Spierer's disappearance. "Absolutely not. That's all I can say."
"We continue to cooperate and will cooperate," said Rossman's attorney, Carl Salzman, saying his client has nothing to hide. "I think the police are trying to collect evidence for maybe future reference from a lot of people and that's certainly good police work."
After a week of looking, the search for Spierer continued Friday. Hundreds of volunteers and police scoured Bloomington and beyond, looking for any sign of Lauren Spierer. Kristen Green drove three hours from Valparaiso.
"I don't even know the girl. I don't know the family. I mean, my heart goes out to them, but I want to help this community," Green said.
Detectives confirmed that Spierer's boyfriend, Jesse Wolff, a fellow IU student, is also considered on of the persons of interest in the case. But they wouldn't confirm if Wolff was with Spierer the night she went missing.
Despite the large number of persons of interest, police have yet to target a suspect in the case.
"We don't have anybody that we characterize as a suspect at this time," Parker said. "There are still some persons of interest that have not been interviewed."
"We're not prepared to stop looking at anybody. So yes, anybody that is a person of interest remains so," he added.
Police say Wolff and all the persons of interest have thus far cooperated with the investigation.
"All I can say is that I hope they find Lauren as soon as possible and this is resolved," Rossman said.
Police offered little information in the search for a missing IU student Friday, saying efforts have produced no results.
Police set up a checkpoint late Thursday night near the area where 20-year-old Lauren Spierer was last seen, exactly one week ago. They had hoped to locate people that were in the area last Thursday and may include the sports bar where Spierer was seen in a weekly routine.
"We set this up at 11th and College at about the same time frame and we're talking about the same day of the week," said Bloomington Police Lt. Bill Parker.
Police stopped 135 cars in the non-intrusive roadblock, showing drivers photos of the missing student, but said they didn't learn any new information. They may set up more roadblocks in the future.
Parker also noted that a search of Lake Monroe that police searched Wednesday and Thursday while acting on a tip, produced negative results. Additional searches with police K-9 officers also haven't provided information.
Parker also thanked local businesses which have provided surveillance videos to police. He also urged businesses who have not provided video, but may have areas of interest recorded to contact police.
"She was depicted on video between 10th and 11th, in between the buildings on 10th and 11th," Parker said, adding that friends of Spierer's have turned over keys and a "card purse" they found between buildings in that area that belonged to the missing student.
Police are not releasing the surveillance video they have in evidence at this time. They are also looking to identify vehicles that were driving in the area where she was last seen.
Parker says investigators will remain on duty and searches will continue through the weekend on the same schedule - 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. - they have been on all week.
"We're not losing hope. We're concentrating completely on this case and finding Lauren. We want to find her," Parker said. "I certainly believe that she may be [alive] and I hope she is."
Several hotels around Bloomington - including the Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Scholars Inn - are offering reduced rates for people coming from outside the area to assist in the search.
Spierer's father, Robert, again spoke to the media and, for the first time, her mother Charlene spoke, asking people to continue the search and participate in "Lunch for Lauren," taking time during the noon hour to go out and look for her daughter.
Robert Spierer said volunteers will take to horseback in areas outside of Bloomington searching for information. He asked homeowners to be accommodating if volunteers approached them.
"I beg you to please allow them the access to your property," he said.
He also reiterated his plea for landowners to check the out buildings on their property for any signs of his daughter.
"If you can find some time to help us out with any of the searches, we would be greatly appreciated," Spierer said.
Police also set up an email address for information and tips related to the case: policetips@bloomington.in.gov
Tips can also be called anonymously to Bloomington Police at 812-339-4477 or America's Most Wanted at 1-800-CRIME-TV.
