Missing Student from Univ of North Dakota

[thetalady]

This is so awful. Sending prayers for this young lady & her extended family.

Please ladies, pay attention while you are out & about. Head up & alert, looking around, inspecting cars as you approach them.

Don't be searching in your purse, don't be juggling a dozen packages. I know you aren't going to ask security guard to walk you to your car, I don't either. But if that parking lot is not VERY well lit, just do it. No one will think you are foolish and who cares if they do?

Have your keys out & ready before you leave a building or mall. Better yet, lace your keys between your fingers and make a fist with them to be used as a weapon if needed.

If you can get pepper spray or mace, carry it IN YOUR HAND on the way to the car, not the bottom of your purse.

Read The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals that Protect Us from Violence By Gavin de Becker. It is a book no woman should be without.

Take a self defense class.

Make it a HABIT to lock your car and home automatically each and every time you get in.

Don't think that if you are no longer young and blonde and slender and pretty that you are safe. Abduction and rape is not about physical attractiveness.


And pray for Dru :'-(

[undtheta2000]

I have posted two threads on GC about this...I go to UND, the school Dru is from. The news has spread all over town, and as I can see all over the country. I knew it was in other states in the area...It's amazing to see how so many have pulled together to help out in this horrible thing. I know I am praying, hard, and am trying to keep a positive look at it all- hoping that she is somewhere safe, not hurt...and that is also praying hard...I will keep this updated as more information is known...

[gphiangel624]

My thoughts and prayers are with Dru, her family, friends, and her chapter. This saddens me so much and I can only hope that wherever she is, she is safe.

[TriDeltaGal]

It is horrible to hear stories like these. I pray that she is found safe!

[PhiPsiRuss]

Grand Forks Press Releases about Dru Sjodin


City of Grand Forks News Release - 11/26/2003


SEARCH FOR DRU SJODIN CONTINUES

Law enforcement officials are continuing the search for missing University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin. Today’s search is in the same areas that have been covered by searchers in the past two days. Law enforcement officials are focusing their attention on areas that some items of interest were located and they are trying to determine if any of those items are directly related to the case. At this point there have been no items found that have been able to provide any significant leads or direction for the search.

The family of Dru Sjodin has expressed that they have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the Grand Forks community. They appreciate the interest and cooperation of the media. At this time, the family is refraining from further interviews and asks that the media direct questions to the Grand Forks Police Department. They have provided a statement to the Grand Forks Police Department that is listed below:
Dru Sjodin Family Statement
The family hopes that anybody with information concerning Dru’s disappearance will immediately contact the Grand Forks Police Department at 701-780-8213.

We also want to express our heartfelt thanks to the local, state and federal authorities, and the volunteers for their efforts in searching for Dru.

We ask everybody right now to pray for Dru’s safe return.


Release issued: 10:00 Am on Wednesday November 26, 2003
Release prepared by: Sgt. Michael Hedlund
For further information contact: Sgt. Michael Hedlund – 701-787-8008

[SparkliiQTMTSU]

OH My Gosh!!!! This just sickens me horribly!! my thoughts are with her family and friends, and Im praying for a safe return.


Nichole

[ThetaPrincess24]

Latest Update:


Friends of Missing Student Search for Her
By DAVE KOLPACK

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - While most University of North Dakota students went home for Thanksgiving, about 30 friends of Dru Sjodin stayed to search for her.

Sjodin, 22, a senior from Pequot Lakes, Minn., has been missing since late Saturday afternoon, when she left her job at the Columbia Mall in Grand Forks. Authorities believe she was abducted while talking to her boyfriend on her cell phone.

``We're going to be up here as long as it takes, until we find something,'' said Hans Tweed, who with Eli Loven and Adam Ruud organized a search party of about 30 friends from Sjodin's hometown. ``We haven't slept barely and haven't done anything but worry about her.''

The search was centered on Fisher, Minn., about 10 miles east of Grand Forks, where a call was traced to her cell phone Saturday night. It has been widened to the Crookston, Minn., area, because the cell phone signal may have carried that far, officials said.

Sjodin's car, a 1994 red two-door Oldsmobile Cutlass, was found in the Columbia Mall parking lot and analyzed by the state crime lab. Police refuse to release a preliminary report of the lab findings.

Sjodin's mother, Linda Walker, said she believes someone knows where her daughter is, and pleaded with that person to ``come forward with her and bring her home safely to us.''

Sjodin's roommate, Meg Murphy, said she last saw Sjodin early Saturday and received a call from Chris Lang, Sjodin's boyfriend, about 6 o'clock that evening.

Lang was worried. He had received two calls from Sjodin - the first was cut off and her boyfriend heard her say, ``Oh, my God'' before the phone went dead. The second call, a couple of hours later, was only static and the sound of numbers being pressed.

Murphy said she called police Saturday night after Sjodin failed to show up for her second job at a restaurant.

``Sometimes I feel it's not even happening, that she's just going to walk through the door or call or something,'' Murphy told the Brainerd Daily Dispatch. ``And then when you watch the news, or when the police call again or go through her room, the reality hits.''


11/27/03 03:54

[gphiangel624]

Are there any updates on this? I've been trying to keep up, but it's not the top news out here in CA and I really want to know what's going on- if they're still searching or what? Any news?

[PhiPsiRuss]

The url, for the City of Grand Fork's press releases, is here.

No good news yet.

[SATX*APhi]

Oh my gosh, this is such sad news. I pray for Dru's quick and safe return. Her family, sorority sisters, and friends will also be kept in my prayers.

[stagebear]

her family has just created a website at http://www.finddru.com/

more officials from around the area as well as from minneapolis have joined the search and a lot of tips have been coming in. hopefully she'll be found safely soon.

[SparkliiQTMTSU]

This is so sad. I wish I could help out too bad I live nowhere near there. I just hope that they can find her and punish her abductor.
Im gonna continue to pray for her safe return.


Nichole

[stagebear]

just wanted to give an update. a news flash just came across my tv a few minutes ago. the police have arrested someone related to the case. i'll update again when i get the full story on the news at 10.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by stagebear
just wanted to give an update. a news flash just came across my tv a few minutes ago. the police have arrested someone related to the case. i'll update again when i get the full story on the news at 10.

Oh wow. I'm praying that she's alive and well.

[AlphaXi4983]

please do keep us posted, i havent heard anything on my local news or cnn

i hope they are making progress, and i hope that only the best comes out of this....