Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you all know that russellwarshay started a thread in N&P on this issue so that we can keep thinking happy thoughts for Dru there, without letting political views interfere.

That being said, there's a big search today, and I hope they find Dru safe and well.

well, rodriguez had his first appearance in grand forks court today. it only took about 10 minutes. bail is set at 5 million dollars. rodriquez said for his safety, he would like to remain in custody. not much else.

i am on our local search and rescue team and usually if the suspect is found without the victim, the victim wont be found or the suspect will let it be known later. i feel so bad for sending bad thoughts out to all of you but on a realistic level...chances of finding ANYONE alive, not just this girl, after so many days is pretty much slim to none. the suspect has already had time to do his harm within the first 24 hours and bodies are usually dumped after that. but i could be wrong. but being a first responder and on search and rescue...you kind of sense things like this. there was that one girl that was abducted and found months later not far from her home. i, of course, hope they find this girl without one hair out of place...good luck to their search and rescue team and my thoughts are with her family.

I'll be honest... this is really what I have been thinking, too :'-(
It has been so long. And if she is anywhere outside, the weather there looks brutally cold.

On the other hand, who thought we would ever see Elizabeth Smart alive again??

Keep the faith!!!

that's exactly what I was thinking :)

i must admit my thoughts also stray towards the negative sometimes. i just try to keep the faith that dru will be found safe.
as for the weather, it's actually not bad up here for december.

The Iowa State Daily had a nice article about a Gamma Phi Beta sister from UND who transferred to Iowa State and is helping the search for Dru down here. It was nice to read some positive Greek news for a change, the Daily has a history of being very anti-Greek.
--------------------
Looking for Dru. by Stefanie Peterson, Daily staff writer

The bonds of sisterhood connected members of the ISU chapter of Gamma Phi Beta sorority with a chapter more than 500 miles away when a University of North Dakota student disappeared two weeks ago.

Dru Sjodin was last heard from Nov. 22 while walking to her car in the parking lot of the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks, N.D., where she worked. She is a member of the University of North Dakota's Alpha Beta chapter of Gamma Phi Beta sorority.


Full Article

This afternoon on the radio the news said they found a maroon mercury with Dru's blood type splattered on the seats and they're sending samples off to a lab for DNA testing. If this turns out to be her blood, let's all have a moment of silence for her life, not her death. Life is a precious gift and we need to honor hers while her family could possibly experience the worst grief anyone could ever possibly have.

Oh no, that doesn't sound like good news. :( My prayers are with her and her family.

not good news
 

N.D. Police Tight-Lipped On Sjodin Investigation
Report: Police Find Blood Sample Matching N.D. Student's Blood Type

POSTED: 7:04 a.m. EST December 5, 2003
UPDATED: 5:43 p.m. EST December 5, 2003

Police in Grand Forks say the odds of finding a missing college student alive are fading with each passing day.

Grand Forks authorities spoke Friday afternoon about the latest developments in the search for missing University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin.


DRU SJODIN

Discuss This Case
Rodriguez file from Minn. Dept. of Corrections


North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem thanked the Sjodin family for their strength. While Kirby said there's no need for more volunteers, he did ask landowners in the area to get out and search their properties for any evidence that might lead authorities to Sjodin. He then reiterated a reward of $140,000 is being offered for any information leading to Dru.

Dru's father, Allan, made a brief statement thanking everyone involved.

"We'll find you, Doodles. No problem," said Sjodin.

Today's search for her has involved only police, and it's focused in an area north of East Grand Forks, Minn. Conditions are snowy and cold.

Her family, friends and volunteers had also been searching for her. But her father, who still believes she is alive, said those searches are being re-evaluated.

Meanwhile, investigators say they have found blood in kidnapping suspect Alfonso Rodriguez's car that matches Sjodin's blood type, a St. Paul newspaper reported.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press, citing sources close to the investigation, reported Thursday night on its Web site that a more extensive DNA analysis is under way following the preliminary analysis.

The Star Tribune newspaper of Minneapolis reported that police have tapes placing Rodriguez, a three-time convicted rapist who has been charged with kidnapping, in the mall parking lot from which authorities believe Sjodin, 22, was abducted Nov. 22.

According to a report on the Minneapolis Star Tribune Web site, Grand Forks police Sgt. Mike Hedlund said the tapes show the 50-year-old suspect in a Grand Forks mall parking lot at the same time Sjodin, 22, was leaving work at a store in the mall. Hedlund said that hopes of finding Sjodin alive fade with each passing day.

The Grand Forks Police Department is disputing the Star Tribune report. Hedlund said the newspaper misinterpreted what he said.

"We have probable cause to believe that Mr. Rodriguez was at Columbia Mall that day," Hedlund said. "I also said we have received surveillance tapes. I'm not saying what's on those videotapes."

The Star Tribune also reported that a knife sheath was found in the parking lot.

Another newspaper, the Grand Forks Herald, reported that Rodriguez didn't show up for work the day Sjodin went missing.

Rodriguez, a level 3 sex offender from nearby Crookston, Minn., is being held on a $5 million bond. That classification is reserved for those considered most likely to reoffend.

His attorney said on Thursday during the bond hearing that Rodriguez wants to stay behind bars for his own safety.

The prosecutor said there's little chance he would offer to cut a deal with Rodriguez in exchange for information to help search for Sjodin.

Police say Sjodin likely was on her cell phone when she was abducted. Her boyfriend told police he heard her scream "Oh my God!" before the line went dead. In a call from Sjodin's phone a couple hours later, the boyfriend heard only static and the sound of buttons being pushed.

www.finddru.com

the link was posted on a CNN.com story and has pictures and printable flyers to distribute.

One of my sisters is really good friends with Dru. It was really sad to find out that one of her friends was missing. Our greek system wrote letters to tell her parents that we were thinking of them and praying for Dru to come home safe.

:(


Any idea to whom the car is registered?

they said it was the suspects car that they arrested. I really hope that if it is her blood that it was just a cut or a bloody nose or something and not something really really bad!!! I mean they didnt say how much blood it was but I hope its not alot. I hope she makes it home.


Nichole