Missing Louisiana student Michaela "Mickey" Shunick's bike found under bridge

Michaela "Mickey" Shunick is seen in an undated personal photo. / Personal photo

(CBS/AP) LAFAYETTE, La. - A missing Louisiana woman's bicycle has been found in a remote, swampy area under a highway bridge in Iberville Parish, about 25 miles from the spot where she was last seen eight days earlier.

Lafayette police spokesman Paul Mouton said Sunday that more than 30 officers searched the area, including a river, for 21-year-old Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, a student at the University of Louisiana.

The Advertiser reported that search dogs were set to work under the bridge and St. Martin Parish sheriff's deputies rode all-terrain vehicles in the woods, while a Louisiana State Police helicopter flew low over the area.

16 Photos

Body of missing La. college student identified

Shunick, of Lafayette, was last seen about 1:45 a.m. on May 19, when she left a friend's house to go home. A video taken about that time showed her and, separately, a late-model, white, four-door pickup truck.

Police say Shunick is a 5'1" white female, with blonde hair and weights 115 pounds. She was last seen wearing a pastel, multi-colored striped shirt, light wash skinny jeans and grey shoes. Shunick departed the residence on a black Schwinn bicycle with gold handle bar grips and wearing a brown leather backpack purse. It is believed that she was going to her residence near the intersection of Ambassador Caffery Parkway and Congress Street in Lafayette.

Detectives are asking anyone with any information about the case to contact the Lafayette Police Department or Crime Stoppers at 232-TIPS.

More on this story from Crimesider:

Volunteers retrace missing student's bike route
Vigil held for missing La. college student
La. college student, missing after bike ride

[PeteTheDragon]

It does not bode well for the shell-shocked family of the girl.

[newz_rulz]

We sincerely hope the young woman in this particular case will be safely recovered, although statistics would beg to differ at this stage - still, miracles can happen and it is critical not to give up all hope. That being said, 'Situational Awareness' is KEY in all circumstances for everyone at any age... male or female - day or night! Parents and schools beat the drum from a very young age not to talk to strangers or venture out and about without anyone knowing where you're going, with whom and when you'll be getting back. Using 'common sense' is filed under Basic Personal Safety Instructional Training 101 - and those of you who think this is somehow blaming a victim are utilizing false logic. I have already heard how anyone should be able to do anything at anytime because they have the right to do so and are doing nothing wrong! News flash: There are bad people out in the world 24/7 who do not think twice about hurting someone else for no reason whatsoever... so, please use your instinctive common sense and do not put yourself in potentially harmful situations which can result in catastrophe. Learn it & live on.

[fedup12]

I sincerely hope that she turns up ok. But this is a bad sign.

[bodettes]

My opinion may not be "right on" but haven't they closed all the mental hospitals and let persons requiring that type of care just wander the streets until they do something terribly wrong? Too many kids have been raised up on shockingly brutal movies produced by Hollywood and touted as entertainment when all they have proved to be are lessons in how to do someone harm and get away with it.

[msay3]

She will be found eventually, unfortunately, it won't be good!

[hypnotoad72]

So many other articles we can't respond to, and yet they are all related to what LoreoftheNile said below...

[venusvegasvada]

We are far to lax with our judicial system.

When offenders have no fear of punishment or the price they pay for their actions, it's time to re-evaluate the punishment given and the swiftness of it's delivery.

[hypnotoad72]

True.

[geoh777]

So true. I propose for every conviction on a crime where the felon attempted or succeeded in hurting somebody, the penalty be death, or if the felon can find a country, like France and some others opposed to the death penalty, to save him, he can go there and be a blessing to them.

[LordoftheNile]

What a great culture we have created for our children. Pregnant women being shot and burned, face eating zombies down in Florida, children and women being abducted and killed right and left and homeless people everywhere... Blah

[cbsnews_viewer]

There is 313 million people, that is a great load of people. Do the math, if it bleeds it leads the news. The inspiring stories are out there, its just little people are covering it.

[curse914]

Like viewer stated, you are suffering from Wyatt Earp Syndrome.

Take a break from the news.

[Soairse]

Young women have to stop thinking that they are safe when they are out alone at night. It doesn't matter if they have walked home alone hundreds of times- it only takes once being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There are too many disturbed people out there and a lone girl is a great temptation to these perverts. No matter how tough a girl thinks she is, she is no match for a grown man (or two of them).
The next time you decide to go it alone, instead of asking for an escort, think about the life-long grief your parents will experience if something were to happen to you.
This is such a sad waste of a beautiful life.

[sepa2]

no one is safe when they have consumed the national drink, promoted and celebrated by everyone.

[hypnotoad72]

Agreed.

I wonder, if the internet had been invented in the 1800s, might Jack the Ripper have been thwarted or caught earlier, and numerous lives saved...