IL - Olamide Adeyooye, 21, Normal, 13 Oct 2005

[Brains & NoBull]

ISU is posting information about the situation as it comes in, as well as safety tips.

Illinois State Seeks Help Finding Missing Student.

 

[mysteriew]

After finding a missing college student's personal belongings near her off-campus apartment, police in Downstate Normal said Wednesday that they now are treating her disappearance as a criminal investigation.

The announcement raised new questions but no new answers about Olamide Adeyooye, 21, of west suburban Berkeley, a senior science major at Illinois State University in Normal. She has not had contact with friends or family members since a phone conversation with her boyfriend the night of Oct. 13.

Normal police--with help from state police, the FBI and the McLean County Emergency Services Disaster Agency Search and Rescue Team--continued to investigate Wednesday as dogs and a plane searched the Normal and Bloomington area.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-051019missing,1,6055702.story?coll=chi-news-hed

 

[Brains & NoBull]

Crime Likely in Disappearance

"Based on our investigation we've done so far, we believe that a crime probably occurred," said Normal Lt. David Warner, who later added police do not have evidence the woman was abducted.

Last night on the news, they showed the police finding a what looked to be a brief case behind some bushes in the area being searched.

Kotte said investigators are constantly receiving new leads and new information, and they are still piecing together what happened. "There's so much information coming in right now that we meet several times a day to get everybody on board so everybody knows what's going on," Kotte said.

The fact that they are calling this a crime and saying that there is no evidence of abduction does not make things look good at all. Olamide's apartment windows were covered with plywood yesterday. I wonder if they found some evidence there? Then again, it may just be to secure it over night.

 

[Marilynilpa]

Crime Likely in Disappearance

Last night on the news, they showed the police finding a what looked to be a brief case behind some bushes in the area being searched.



The fact that they are calling this a crime and saying that there is no evidence of abduction does not make things look good at all. Olamide's apartment windows were covered with plywood yesterday. I wonder if they found some evidence there? Then again, it may just be to secure it over night.

I wonder what the brief case was, nothing like that was reported missing from her apartment. As I recall, the only things missing were her keys, purse and car. Unless her purse maybe looks like a brief case?

This just doesn't look good. What a shame.

 

[Brains & NoBull]

I wonder what the brief case was, nothing like that was reported missing from her apartment. As I recall, the only things missing were her keys, purse and car. Unless her purse maybe looks like a brief case?

This just doesn't look good. What a shame.

It was clear that the shot was made from quite some distance away and there was a bush that was somewhat obstructing the camera's view. It was obvious though that a police officer was bending down looking at the brief case. The reporter said that the brief case was something that police had found in the search but they were not discussing details of the investigation.

I half wondered at the time if it was maybe the police officer's own case. Then again, it could be Olamide's purse as you said. Or perhaps it was a case for a lap top computer. Who knows what all was missing from her apartment? If whoever did this was someone that she had met online (perhaps through blogging - she gave out so much personal information!) then it would be possible that they would want to dispose of her laptop.

That is just specuation, or course, but it is plausible.

 

[Brains & NoBull]

The friend's blog is back: http://blog.myspace.com/petrey

Much of the personal info has been deleted as well as her friend list. I wonder if the police do think that Olamide's disappearance is related to the blog and told her friends to be careful what they post?

I just can not get over how much personal info these girls gave out. Olamide was such a striking girl. She said that she worked at Ruby Tuesday's. If someone was so inclined, they could have waited outside of work for her and followed her home.

I wonder when her last shift was? Did she get off of work and hop in the shower the day that her friend yelled at her for not having locked the door? So many possibilities.

I really hope that there is a break in the case soon. Even more so, I hope that she is safe somewhere.

LE really needs to check her email accounts to see if she was receiving any odd emails via her info on her blog.

 

[2luvmy]

I was thinking that maybe the items that were found were items from her car????

 

[Marilynilpa]

The friend's blog is back: http://blog.myspace.com/petrey

Much of the personal info has been deleted as well as her friend list. I wonder if the police do think that Olamide's disappearance is related to the blog and told her friends to be careful what they post?

I just can not get over how much personal info these girls gave out. Olamide was such a striking girl. She said that she worked at Ruby Tuesday's. If someone was so inclined, they could have waited outside of work for her and followed her home.

I wonder when her last shift was? Did she get off of work and hop in the shower the day that her friend yelled at her for not having locked the door? So many possibilities.

I really hope that there is a break in the case soon. Even more so, I hope that she is safe somewhere.

LE really needs to check her email accounts to see if she was receiving any odd emails via her info on her blog.

A few weeks ago I started following the case of Taylor Behl, a 17-year-old college student from Richmond, Virginia. That was when I learned how much personal information people put on these blogs. And the 38-year-old man who (allegedly) raped and murdered her had numerous websites and blogs, full of all sorts of information. People put stuff on their blogs that they probably would NEVER tell a total stranger, and yet anyone can read the blogs. I agree that it's entirely possible someone read Olamide's blog and was able to learn enough about her to follow her from work and learn where she lives.

The briefcase intrigues me, because earlier Olamide's father mentioned that he thought someone had abducted her. Is it possible that a ransom demand was made, and the ransom money placed in that briefcase but no one showed up to get it? No one has mentioned anything about her having a laptop computer or briefcase of any kind. Curious.

 

[ketel0ne]

Olamide Adeyooye: Police say media exposure could aid search for missing ISU student
October 20th, 2005 @ 4:52 PM

Police and the family have in our view acted very strange about media coverage of the case of missing ISU student, Olamide Adeyooye (oh-LAH’-mee-day ah-day-YOH’-yay). We had heard from several sources that her family was scheduled to be on Greta’s “On the Record” on Tuesday night and they backed out. Now with a hurricane looming in the headlines, getting coverage for Olamide’s case will be increasingly more difficult.

This line is from the linked article:

Police say they haven’t sought media coverage, but have fielded calls from ABC’s “Good Morning America” and M-S-N-B-C among the flood of inquiries about their search for Olamide Adeyooye (oh-LAH’-mee-day ah-day-YOH’-yay).

Police say media exposure could aid search for missing ISU student

​

We have 2 questions: first, why haven’t they or the family sought national media attention, and second, with the exposure now coming to them are they responding accordingly? It has now been a week and we still do not know where Olamide is.

Newscenter 17 at 5, 6, & 10 covered the case locally yesterday.

 

[Brains & NoBull]

The news just came on with a teaser and said that a local man is starting his own search for Olamide. They will have more info on that story in the newscast.

I have seen too many cases where the person responsible starts up their own search and then finds the victim. I am not sure what to make of this new development. I am certainly curious as to who this is and why they are searching.

I will post after the newscast!

 

[Marilynilpa]

Olamide Adeyooye: Police say media exposure could aid search for missing ISU student
October 20th, 2005 @ 4:52 PM

Police and the family have in our view acted very strange about media coverage of the case of missing ISU student, Olamide Adeyooye (oh-LAH’-mee-day ah-day-YOH’-yay). We had heard from several sources that her family was scheduled to be on Greta’s “On the Record” on Tuesday night and they backed out. Now with a hurricane looming in the headlines, getting coverage for Olamide’s case will be increasingly more difficult.

This line is from the linked article:

Police say they haven’t sought media coverage, but have fielded calls from ABC’s “Good Morning America” and M-S-N-B-C among the flood of inquiries about their search for Olamide Adeyooye (oh-LAH’-mee-day ah-day-YOH’-yay).


Police say media exposure could aid search for missing ISU student


​

We have 2 questions: first, why haven’t they or the family sought national media attention, and second, with the exposure now coming to them are they responding accordingly? It has now been a week and we still do not know where Olamide is.


Newscenter 17 at 5, 6, & 10 covered the case locally yesterday.

Something seems a little odd about Olamide's family's reaction to her disappearance. Her friend (sorry I can't recall her name, but she is the one who had the blog with all the info about Olamide) started out strong, talking to everyone, getting interviewed on t.v., etc. Then, apparently at the request of her family, the friend stopped talking to the media.

Olamide's father said he thought someone had Olamide, which makes me wonder if the family knows more than they are willing to say. Could there be something about her family that would make her a likely target for kidnapping? Has there been a ransom demand that they have kept quiet?

All I know is that if this were my daughter, I'd be shouting from the rooftops trying to get people involved in finding her. I'd encourage each and every one of her friends to talk to anyone who will listen - I certainly wouldn't ask them to keep a low profile.

As I said, something seems a little off about this. Does anyone else feel that way?

 

[KatherineQ]

There are cultures where it's shameful to be a victim, and families that have a tragedy just keep their mouths shut because it "calls the attention of the Gods" onto their family and then more bad luck comes.

I wonder if her family's reaction might be as simple as that - not wanting to publicly announce their fears.

 

[Brains & NoBull]

• Normal police questioning persons of interest.
• Friends and family members searching parks for Olamide and her car.
• Normal police found personal belongings at a park near apartment.
• Candlelight vigil moved due to weather. Now at library plaza at 8:30.

 

[Trino]

Something seems a little odd about Olamide's family's reaction to her disappearance. Her friend (sorry I can't recall her name, but she is the one who had the blog with all the info about Olamide) started out strong, talking to everyone, getting interviewed on t.v., etc. Then, apparently at the request of her family, the friend stopped talking to the media.

Olamide's father said he thought someone had Olamide, which makes me wonder if the family knows more than they are willing to say. Could there be something about her family that would make her a likely target for kidnapping? Has there been a ransom demand that they have kept quiet?

All I know is that if this were my daughter, I'd be shouting from the rooftops trying to get people involved in finding her. I'd encourage each and every one of her friends to talk to anyone who will listen - I certainly wouldn't ask them to keep a low profile. As I said, something seems a little off about this. Does anyone else feel that way?

Yes. I feel the same way. I can't understand how media coverage could hinder a police investigation, although it could be that she was kidnapped, and there's a ransom demand. Maybe LE is concerned the kidnapper might murder her if he gets nervous. A kidnapping scenario would also explain the parent's reaction.

 

[Brains & NoBull]

There are cultures where it's shameful to be a victim, and families that have a tragedy just keep their mouths shut because it "calls the attention of the Gods" onto their family and then more bad luck comes.

I wonder if her family's reaction might be as simple as that - not wanting to publicly announce their fears.

My thoughts completely Katherine.

 

[mysteriew]

Police said they suspect criminal activity in the disappearance of an Illinois State University senior, but declined to give specifics Wednesday.

"Based on our investigation we've done so far, we believe that a crime probably occurred," said Normal Lt. David Warner, who later added police do not have evidence the woman was abducted.

Normal Police used planes, dogs and help from state and federal law enforcement in the search for Adeyooye.

Police said Wednesday a member of a search team found items belonging to her in the area of a parking lot at the corner where Kern Street turns into Kingsley Street.

"I can't go into specifics of what personal items, but they were her personal items," said Normal Lt. Mark Kotte.

FBI Supervisory Special Agent Marshall Stone said agents from the bureau's Champaign office joined the search for Adeyooye.
http://www.pantagraph.com/stories/102005/new_20051020036.shtml

 

[WackyLadyCaet]

By the way, the myspace that was quoted from, you should all be aware that there was a "fake" myspace out there that claimed to be Ola's. That myspace, and the livejournal has since been deleted, as it contained false information. It was not a myspace that Ola ever posted to. This is likely why your quotes/links do not work anymore.
Ola's family has asked Ashley and Samantha to tone down their vocalizations to the media, and to remove any personal information such as biographies from the websites. Likely, LE does not want anyone interfering with the investigation, even if they are trying to do good. They are receiving a flood of information and tips, and the more information on Olamide's description, the more "sightings" will pour in. This will lead to false leads and wasted time.
I do find it interesting though, that Ashley was at Ola's when she was in the shower, and is the last friend to have seen her, and now she has pretty much been gagged from speaking.

 

[Marilynilpa]

By the way, the myspace that was quoted from, you should all be aware that there was a "fake" myspace out there that claimed to be Ola's. That myspace, and the livejournal has since been deleted, as it contained false information. It was not a myspace that Ola ever posted to. This is likely why your quotes/links do not work anymore.
Ola's family has asked Ashley and Samantha to tone down their vocalizations to the media, and to remove any personal information such as biographies from the websites. Likely, LE does not want anyone interfering with the investigation, even if they are trying to do good. They are receiving a flood of information and tips, and the more information on Olamide's description, the more "sightings" will pour in. This will lead to false leads and wasted time.
I do find it interesting though, that Ashley was at Ola's when she was in the shower, and is the last friend to have seen her, and now she has pretty much been gagged from speaking.

While more information about Olamide might lead to "false leads and wasted time", it might also lead to a valid tip that might help solve this case! Many cases, including the recent murder of Daniel Horowitz's wife Pamela Vitale, have been solved by a tip called in to police. My father was a homicide cop in Dallas, Texas for many years and yes, the police hated all the wacky tips people called in, but they treated each and every one of them seriously. I don't think they looked upon it as wasted time, they looked upon it as going through all the crap and sometimes finding valuable information. So I really doubt that LE wants any information on Olamide to be held back.

Like you, I also find it interesting that Ashley has been silenced. IMHO, although her motives might have been good, she seemed to rather enjoy being in the spotlight. Maybe Olamide's family felt Ashley was getting too much attention directed towards her, rather than towards Olamide.

I wonder what personal items of Olamide were found in the park? I've been puzzled by the missing comforter, and now I am wondering if she might have gone to the park to meet someone, and took the comforter either for warmth, or to have something to sit on. But it was pretty late for going to the park, so I don't know if that is a valid theory. Seeing as how she left food in the microwave, the t.v. and lights on, and left her cell phone, it makes it look like she either left in a hurry, or wasn't expecting to be gone long.

Hopefully the personal items found the in park will help LE in their investigation. I'm glad that this is now being treated seriously by LE, and pray that Olamide will be found soon.

 

[Brains & NoBull]

Praying for Her Return

One hope brought hundreds together on a chilly, drizzly night for a candlelight vigil: the safe return of a 21-year-old Illinois State University student missing since last week. Olamide Adeyooye, a senior from Berkeley, was last seen Oct. 13, and police are treating it as a criminal case.

"Olamide is loved, cared for, being thought of," said Chika Nnmani, assistant vice president of student affairs at ISU. "This is just a symbol of our support for you."

Police Quiet on Progress

Investigators say they are closer to determining what happened to a missing Illinois State University student, but department officials released no details Thursday.

"We kind of have a general idea, I think, but it's still too early because we still haven't got all the pieces of the puzzle," Normal police Lt. Mark Kotte said. "I mean, we have some generalities, but we can't share them (with the public) because that would definitely become a problem for the case."

 

[Brains & NoBull]

Like you, I also find it interesting that Ashley has been silenced. IMHO, although her motives might have been good, she seemed to rather enjoy being in the spotlight. Maybe Olamide's family felt Ashley was getting too much attention directed towards her, rather than towards Olamide.

I agree Marilyn. I found it interesting that Ashley was posting just as much about her visitor statistics as she was posting about Olamide's disappearance. She also was posting all of the information that she had given police (ie. the missing comforter) which could have compromised the investigation.

The scheduled appearance on Fox News also made me come to the same conclusion as you Marilyn. Fox News has a history of going after missing person cases and sensationalizing them. This case has been thoroughly covered by the local media, and it will be a local tip that will crack the case. I think that Olamide's family wanted to avoid the circus that can develop when the national media grabs hold of a missing persons case.