This case is the first one that drew me in to Webseluths, and I followed it from the beginning though I didn't become a member or post back then. I remember when there was a search in Martinsville very early on, and I felt both relief that they might find her and fear that they might find her. Now I wish so much that she had been found back then. It is so sad to check in on this case and she is still missing after 5 years. I never imagined it would go on this long. My heart goes out to her mom, her dad and her sister. The loss and the not knowing must be unbearable.
Some unwitting people(on other sites) ask, why Lauren? What makes her disappearance any different than other missing women? The answer is , everyone counts the same. But, being from BTown, and
seeing her anguished family during the search, having spent alot of time in the exact crime scene area, etc, it devastated me. I have really never been the same, not even an iota of the pain her parents feel, but just the way I look at things now, as a parent I never think my child is safe.
I know there's evil out there but even more, I can see what good kids just thinking they're having a great time can end up doing to themselves and others. We can educate them about bad people and safe tactics, but can we save them from themselves? On a positive note, there is a widespread movement on campus both for sexual assault/date rape awareness and blacked out drinking.Hopefully, it will take hold.
Edited again to say, it should be mandatory for all drinking establishments to post X amount of signs around the premises delineating what sexual assault is, watch your drinks, do not leave drinks unattended, please notify security if someone is harassing you etcetera.
Also, anyone who for some reason is stranded in their premises should be dealt with by sending in a cab and either pay or sign a receipt saying they will pay or be banned.
When intoxicated people get stranded, they do things they would never do. I've been there.
In many of these tragic events, we see the stranded person become a victim.
And yes, these people making millions of dollars from these kids should be responsible.
