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Last updated on Friday, January 29, 2016
(MARTINSVILLE) - The FBI and Bloomington Police conducted a raid of Martinsville home connected to a man suspected of flashing himself to numerous women. Sources at the scene and Bloomington Police confirm the search is connected to the disappearance of an Indiana University student Lauren Spierer.
Charlene Spierer says she remains more determined than ever to find out what happened to her daughter.
"I want to find Lauren more than anything in the whole wide world and that's the most important thing," she said. "We have not been contacted by authorities, and have no info about the investigation in Martinsville. Even in our darkest, most heart wrenching moments, we will never stop searching for the truth. What started innocently enough as a college girl, going with a friend to a college party turned into a parent's worst nightmare. What happened to Lauren could have happened to anyone. Could have happened to you. If you know anything about Lauren's disappearance please share your information."
20-year-old Lauren Spierer vanished after a night of partying at Kilroy's Sports Bar and 5 North Townhomes in downtown Bloomington. Police say Spierer, barefoot and without her phone, turned a corner at 11th Street and College Avenue, intent on walking to her Smallwood Plaza apartment. She hasn't been seen since about 4:30 a.m. Friday, June 3, 2011.
The FBI and other police agencies converged on the home in the 2900 block of Old Morgantown Rd., Thursday morning. Investigators are on the scene with cadaver dogs.
The cadaver dogs indicated there was potential evidence at the scene. Anthropologists went to the property after the cadaver dogs' discovery. Officials were digging and sifting dirt near a barn. No body was found. However, some evidence was removed from the scene. The property was released back to the owner Thursday night.
A white pickup was towed from the scene Thursday morning. In surveillance video released shortly after Spierer's disappearance, investigators were looking for a white truck recorded by security cameras.
Bloomington Police confirmed they were at the home with the FBI in connection with the Spierer case.
"No other information will be released other than this confirmation that the Bloomington Police Department was the agency involved in Morgan County as previously reported by various media outlets," Bloomington police Deputy Chief Joe Qualters stated in a news release.
Special Agent Wendy Osborne of the Indianapolis branch of the FBI is assisting the Bloomington Police Department. who are the lead investigators in the case.
"We were in Morgan County providing assistance to the department following leads regarding Lauren Spierer," she added. "We are providing manpower, expertise and resources to help with the investigation. There is no additional information to release regarding this matter at this time."
According to police records, 35-year-old Justin Wagers, who lived at the home, has criminal convictions in five counties - Bartholomew, Brown, Johnson, Monroe and Morgan - dating back to 2000. He pleaded guilty in all of those convictions, which included pleas to 10 public indecency charges, four battery charges, two vicarious sexual gratification charges, and one charge each of intimidation and invasion of privacy.
Law enforcement say Wagers may be connected to the disappearances of two other people as well.
Last August, Wagers was arrested for exposing his genitals to a woman at a Circle K gas station near Bluff Road and County line Road in Johnson County. He was charged with indecent exposure after the woman identified Wagers from his photo on the state sex offender registry.
While Wagers reportedly lives at the address on Old Morgantown Road up until his arrest, property records show the home is owned by Danny and Lisa Walker of Martinsville. Wager is Lisa Walker's son.
He is currently facing charges in Bartholomew County for public indecency and public nudity; Johnson County for public indecency and an unrelated charge of leaving the scene of an accident; and Marion County for performing sexual misconduct in the presence of a minor and public indecency.
He has been ordered to undergo sexual offender evaluation and treatment.
Thursday evening, Wagers' attorney, Chris Eskew, released the following statement about the investigation:
"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 and asks that the media respect their privacy."
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