As the FBI joins the search for missing UW-Madison sophomore Audrey Seiler, Madison Police are investigating a link between her disappearance and a previous attack on Seiler in front of her apartment building in February. This comes as new surveillance video shows Seiler leaving her apartment building alone.
Ginny Sievers, a close friend of Seiler and a UW-Madison sophomore, said the FBI joined local police in the investigation, but said she did not know whether police or family asked them to help.
Madison Police discovered Monday that Seiler was attacked while walking down South Randall Court Feb. 1, according to Channel3000.com. The unknown individual hit her on the back of her head, leaving her unconscious. Police are investigating whether Seiler was being stalked and if this could lead to her whereabouts.
Meanwhile, WKOW News reported new surveillance videos from Seiler's residence, The Regent Apartments, 1402 Regent St., show her leaving the building in the early morning hours of Saturday, March 27. It shows her leaving of her own accord and not being lured away from the apartment.
At UW-Madison, students and university officials also stepped up efforts Monday in hopes of finding evidence that could lead to her safe return. University officials initiated a Web site, and students led an early-morning search along Lakeshore Path.
UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear told reporters the university is saddened by the recent disappearance and is doing everything possible to find Seiler. The university issued an e-mail to all students, faculty and staff with a description of Seiler and where she was last seen. The university also launched www.findaudrey.wisc.edu, a Web site that contains information on Seiler and her disappearance.
\Chancellor Wiley and I want to assure you that the university is doing everything it can to assist the Seiler family and to aid the investigation of campus and city of Madison police,"" Spear said.
""We are also calling on the university community to come together to provide police with any information that might be helpful in their investigation.""
Students combed Lakeshore Path, hoping to find any piece of evidence that could help explain her situation. The search party consisted of 70 to 80 people and was populated mainly by Lakeshore dormitory residents. Although the search yielded no results, those close to Seiler do not see it as a failure.
Sievers said coming up empty was a much better result that finding anything suspicious.
Although there were no Madison Police present at the search of Lakeshore Path, they have been vigorously searching for Sieler since Saturday afternoon.
Sievers became alarmed when Sieler failed to meet up with her on Saturday.
""I was supposed to get together with her Saturday afternoon around two o'clock, and she hadn't called me and I couldn't get a hold of her, that's when I started to worry,"" she said.
Sievers eventually called Seiler's boyfriend, who in turn called Seiler's family, which led to the police being notified of the disappearance.
Seiler is described as 5'8"" and 120 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a burgundy Abercrombie and Fitch sweatshirt with navy sweatpants.
