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Bloomington Police Probe Similarities Between 2 Disappearances In Search For Lauren Spierer

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police in Bloomington said they have contacted authorities in Louisiana about their search for a college student whose disappearance has similarities to that of an Indiana University student from Westchester who has been missing for nearly a year.

Spokesman Capt. Joe Qualters told the Herald Times that Bloomington police, who are investigating the June 3, 2011, disappearance of Lauren Spierer, have contacted Louisiana authorities who are searching for University of Louisiana student Michaela "Mickey'' Shunick, who has been missing since May 19.

Spierer, 20, was last seen on June 3, 2011 after a night out with friends in downtown Bloomington. She left without her shoes or cell phone and was later seen on surveillance video stumbling out of an elevator at her apartment.

Shunick, 21, was last seen shortly before 2 a.m., when she left a friend's house in an area popular with college students in Lafayette, La., to go home. Her bicycle was found Sunday in a remote, swampy area under a highway bridge in Iberville Parish, about 25 miles from where she was last seen.

Both women are blonde and petite. Shunick is described as white, with long, wavy blonde hair. She is 5-foot-1 and 115 pounds. Spierer is described as white, with shoulder length blonde hair. She is 4-foot-11 and 95 lbs.

Police in Bloomington have received thousands of tips related to Spierer's disappearance and tested several remains found in surrounding areas to no avail.

Spierer's parents recently said they no longer believe their daughter is alive.

In February, the Spierers announced that thanks to a donation, the reward for information that leads them to their daughter has grown to $250,000.

They asked that anyone with information contact Beau Dietl Associates at 1.800.777.9366, www.investigations.com or the Bloomington Police Department at (812)339-4477.

For more information, visit www.findlauren.com.

(TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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