MORGAN COUNTY, Ind.- FBI agents assisted Bloomington police in an investigation in Morgan County Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of Lauren Spierer, the Bloomington Police Department said.
“Not knowing and not having her is devastating and there’s just no words. It’s very hard to live with every single day,” said Charlene Spierer, Lauren’s mother.
The Morgan County sheriff said federal agents were raiding a property in the area of the 2900 block of Old Morgantown Road.
Law enforcement sources told FOX59 an individual who used to live at the property may be connected to the disappearances of two other people as well.
“I do believe we’re going to find Lauren one day. But you know it’s very hard with each passing year and because you have to sort of give it over to the powers that be.
There’s a bigger power than me and that hopefully we’re going to find her,” said Spierer.
Agents searched the property, along with cadaver dogs, Thursday afternoon. The cadaver dogs indicated there was potential evidence at the scene. Anthropologists went to the property after the cadaver dogs’ discovery.
“Of course first and foremost we want to find Lauren. And if Lauren is there, that’s what my main concern is, finding Lauren and bringing her home. Wherever she is, however bad it might be.
That’s my only goal is to find her,” said Spierer.
A dig was conducted and nothing was found. The house was turned back over to the owners.
Investigators are now going to the Johnson County Jail to speak to a man who used to live there.
The property that was searched belongs to family of Justin Wagers, who was arrested last August in an indecent exposure case. He lived at the property prior to his arrest.
He was accused of exposing himself to a woman at a Shell gas station near State Road 37 and Bluff Road. Police had been investigating a “serial flasher” wanted in several cases prior to Wagers’ arrest but could not say if he was connected to each case.
Since 2005, Wagers has been arrested in Bartholomew, Johnson, Monroe and Morgan Counties. The charges range from public indecency to vicarious sexual gratification and intimidation.
Spierer disappeared in the early morning hours of June 3, 2011 from Bloomington.
She had spent the night drinking with friends at at Kilroy’s Sports Bar and a friend’s apartment earlier in the night.
She was never seen again. No arrests have ever been made in the case. Spierer had just finished her sophomore year at IU. She was 20 years old when she went missing.
A white truck was towed from the property, but it does not match the description of the truck investigators originally sought in the case.
Wagers’ attorney issued the following statement Thursday night:
“Mr. Wagers has no knowledge regarding the disappearance of Lauren Spierer or any other missing person. The family has no further comment at this time.”
FOX59 contacted Spierer’s mother, Charlene, who said she was unaware of the development.
Private investigators hired by the Spierer family told FOX59 they were going to the scene.
