Friday, Jan. 29, 2016

Page 1

I N D I A N A D A I LY S T U D E N T | F R I D AY, J A N . 2 9 , 2 0 1 6 | I D S N E W S . C O M

FBI confirms link to Lauren Spierer case in Martinsville raid From IDS reports

The Indianapolis office of the FBI confirmed an investigation carried out in Martinsville, Indiana, on Thursday is linked to former IU student Lauren Spierer’s disappearance. Spierer, 20, was reported missing at 4:30 a.m. on June 6, 2011. She was last seen walking south on College Avenue from 11th Street on her way back to her apartment in Smallwood Plaza on College Avenue. The FBI was investigating a previous residence of Justin Wagers, 35. The Indianapolis office of the FBI assisted the Bloomington Police Department with the investigation, special agent Wendy Osborne said. Wagers’ attorney Chris Eskew released a statement to the IndyStar.

“Mr. Wagers has no knowledge regarding the disappearance of Lauren Spierer or any other missing person,” Eskew said. The large, brown house is located on the 2900 block of Old Morgantown Road. Investigators left the property at about 6 p.m. A half hour later, a pickup truck that had been parked in front of the garage drove down the driveway, stopped at the end for a few minutes and then drove away. The street was dark and fairly empty as of 9 p.m., with no neighbors to be seen. A “road closed” sign was posted at the end of the street, but cars occasionally continued to drive through. Wagers had previously been

More about Spierer Check idsnews.com for updates through the weekend and past coverage booked into the Johnson County Jail, charged with indecent exposure and bond forfeiture, according to the jail. Wagers’ previous charges include a Class 6 felony charge of performing sexual misconduct in the presence of a minor, including touching or fondling oneself. Both charges occurred on Dec. 15, 2015, and are still pending. Spierer’s case is active and ongoing, according to a BPD press release. IDS FILE PHOTO

Lindsay Moore and Former Bloomington Police Department lieutenant of detectives Bill Parker holds up Samantha Schmidt a poster of Lauren Spierer during a press briefing on the fourth day of searches for Spierer in June 2011.

2 sexual assaults reported to BPD

IDS

By Samantha Schmidt schmisam@indiana.edu | @schmidtsam7

Two unrelated Bloomington women each reported a sexual assault Wednesday, according to police records. At about 2:48 p.m. Wednesday, a 40-year-old woman called the Bloomington Police Department to report an alleged rape she said took place in October 2015. She decided to report the assault to police Wednesday because she discovered photos of herself in her former boyfriend’s computer files showing her partially nude and changing clothing, BPD Lt. John Kovach said, reading off of a report. The woman said in October, her then-boyfriend, 37, was intoxicated and at her residence. He told her he was going to drive home and she urged him not to drive while intoxicated and told him he could sleep at her house instead. The couple fell asleep, and the woman woke up to the man forcing himself on her, Kovach said. They then got into an argument about the definition of rape, she said. The woman told him it was not consensual, but the man said that it was. Later that day, the two of them attended a family function together, and afterward they had consensual sex, Kovach said. They had consensual sex again days later. After seeing the photos of herself, which she had not given her boyfriend permission to take, she decided to pursue rape charges against him. The case remains under investigation, Kovach said. In a separate case, a 32-year-old woman called police at 4:48 p.m. Wednesday from the Kroger at Seminary Square to report a sexual assault. She reported that she had been with a man that she knew at his house on the 500 block of South College Avenue that night. She had taken what she thought was Tylenol P.M. but she

TAE-GYUN KIM | IDS

Chad Singer, left, Robert Toms and David Brumfield practice their parts during a rehearsal of “TOAST” on Wednesday at Bloomington Playwrights Project.

Community of misfits BPP’s “TOAST” combines outcast characters, kinetic energy By Maia Rabenold mrabenol@indiana.edu | @maialyra

An intricate snake tattoo winds from one arm, loops up and around the back and ends at the other wrist. This tattoo, worn by Lily Talevski’s character Tania, drives the plot of the Bloomington Playwrights Project’s production of the musical “TOAST,” which opens Friday. “Some people think I’m the snake, I’m the one that constantly is shedding out of anyone’s grasp,” Talevski said. “For me, it’s a form of rebirth, constantly evolving and finding yourself over and over, because that’s what a snake does by

shedding its skin.” The play begins when 22-year-old Tania, who left home at 17, returns to her hometown of New Orleans to find her ex-boyfriend, a tattoo artist. His name is Snake, and she wants him to finish the partially completed ink across her body. At first, finding Snake is just a means to an end because she wants to enter a nationwide tattoo competition to win a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Finding out Snake has cancer puts their project on a deadline. “All of these things and moments and memories, they are finite,” Talevski said. “None of it

lasts forever. It’s going to end in loss one way or another. Everyone here knows that, and that’s what makes life so much more explosive.” Writer Sam Carner and composer Derek Gregor adapted the musical from the novella of the same title by Rex Rose. Carner said the eclectic community of characters lent itself to musical theater. “A sense of community is always the core of any musical, and this had such a rich group of misfits,” Carner said. “If there’s one thing that musical theater does well, it’s telling a story of a group of people SEE TOAST, PAGE 8

“TOAST” Tickets $10-20 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Feb. 4-6, Feb.11-13, Bloomington Playwrights Project

“A sense of community is always the core of any musical, and this had such a rich group of misfits. If there’s one thing that musical theater does well, it’s telling a story of a group of people coming together.” Sam Carner, “TOAST” writer

SEE SEXUAL ASSAULT, PAGE 8

Hamilton discusses firehouse repairs By Hannah Alani halani@indiana.edu | @hannahalani

Mayor John Hamilton peered through the glass window of the Bloomington Fire Department’s third post, surprised to see an empty station. “I guess they’re out on a run,” Hamilton said, walking the perimeter of the building. He tried out his Mayor John master key, a small Hamilton bronze key that unlocks most doors in Bloomington city government. The key failed to unlock the doors of the limestone one-story building, where just a few of Bloomington’s 650 public employees work. “I’m just gonna leave them my card here, so they know I stopped by.” As Hamilton was leaving, firefighter Dane Young approached the station. “Hey! How’s it going?” the mayor said. “I was trying to break in.” Young was getting back with one of the University Station Third Battalion’s fire trucks. BFD Headquarters SEE HAMILTON, PAGE 8

Eisenberg collaborates with Middle Way House By Sarah Gardner gardnese@indiana.edu | @sarahhhgardner

Actor Jesse Eisenberg has a history of philanthropy work in arts education and environmentalism. This semester, he is expanding his activism to a nonprofit organization in Bloomington. Eisenberg has collaborated with Middle Way House to raise funds for sexual assault and domestic violence. Donations from IU student groups to the “I’m With Jesse” campaign will be matched, dollar-fordollar, by Eisenberg. The campaign is open from now until April 3. “The Middle Way House seems to me to be growing in exactly the right ways and it is very much a model organization,” Eisenberg said. “I’ve never seen an organization so efficient and responsible with its funds and I felt it was a wonderful cause.” Middle Way House was founded in 1971 and helps with housing, employment, child care and other needs for women affected by sexual assault and domestic violence. It also advocates for awareness of these issues. Eisenberg said he was introduced to Middle Way House through Bloomington resident Anna Strout, whom he met 15 years ago. Strout is the daughter of Toby Strout, Middle Way House’s executive director. “Jesse’s visited a few times and this summer he came on a tour of our facilities and our mission and that’s where this all started,” said Jim

COURTESY PHOTO

Actor Jesse Eisenberg stands in front of the Middle Way House in Bloomington. Eisenberg has recently worked with a group of IU students to match every dollar raised by the IU student group for the Middle Way House.

Davis, Middle Way House’s fund development coordinator. “His excitement and willingness to provide and participate on behalf of Middle Way House is thrilling to us.” Eisenberg’s personal ties to Middle Way House are the primary reason for his involvement in Bloomington, he said. Though he has done other charity and philanthropic works, this is his first involvement with sexual assault and domestic

violence. Eisenberg said though he doesn’t think he’s earned the right to be an advocate for these issues, he feels to not help would be a missed opportunity. “There are all sorts of odd consequences that come from having a public persona, but this certainly isn’t one of them,” Eisenberg said. “It’s one of the perks to be able to pick a cause you care about for any

reason and really try to help.” Money raised during the campaign will go toward paying off the mortgage on Middle Way House’s New Wings facility, which houses administrative offices and hotline services. The building was opened in 2010 as Middle Way House expanded its services, Davis said. “It would be an incredible thing SEE EISENBERG, PAGE 8


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 by Indiana Daily Student - idsnews - Issuu