Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, Louisiana college student, missing after bike ride

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter ,; Missing

Michaela "Mickey" Shunick

/ Lafayette Police Department

(CBS/KLFY) LAFAYETTE, La. - Police in Louisiana say they are now searching for a 21-year-old college student who went missing after leaving a friend's residence early Saturday.

Michaela "Mickey" Shunick was last seen riding a bicycle around 2:00 a.m. on May 19, 2012, according to a Lafayette Police Department press release.

Shunick's family says they knew something was wrong Saturday morning when she didn't attend her brother's graduation ceremony, reports CBS affiliate KLFY.

According to the Daily Advertiser, the FBI joined local and state police in the search on Monday, which was also Shunick's birthday.

"We just want her to come home," Michaela's sister Charlie Shunick told the Daily Advertiser. "Anything -- any clue -- if anyone saw her."

The 21-year-old is reportedly a senior anthropology major at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

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.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information that may lead to finding her.

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by reno357 May 26, 2012 3:56 PM EDT: consider her dead. when will people learn to use their freakin' brains? cycling home at 2am?? holy frak! i hope she's ok, i really do, but looking at track records of this nature, consider her dead. this kind of news really irritates the crud out of me. use your brains, students, use your freakin' brains!; Reply to this comment

by Caity_Schlabach May 23, 2012 3:36 PM EDT

The reward is now $25,000. She has a bicycle tattoo on her ankle. Please pass the word and keep your eyes open!! We need to bring Mickey back home to us!!

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by Kaptnsonic2 May 26, 2012 6:34 PM EDT: For any law enforcement officers out there reading this - its interesting to me that this young lady resembles the Ft. Bragg, NC female soldier that went missing several weeks ago, maybe a month ago now. Both are bright blond haired, same build, same height and very close to the same age, same weight and both went missing @ approximately the same time after visiting establishments that cater to young party goers. I might start looking for a white pick up truck on video surveillance cameras (if any) that have information related to the missing Ft. Bragg soldier. Seems odd to me there there is such commonality in the two womens disappearences.


by Chrissy521 May 23, 2012 10:27 AM EDT: I just want to offer my prayers for both this young lady, and her family and friends, who are all sick with worry and fear right now as the search goes on for her. I can't begin to imagine what they are all going through.; Reply to this comment


by whiteorchid2615 May 23, 2012 9:50 AM EDT: Also, if anyone would like to follow the story and receive updates; you can follow by going to this link.... https://www.facebook.com/findmickeynow; Reply to this comment


by whiteorchid2615 May 23, 2012 9:46 AM EDT: The reward is now $20,000 not $10,000.; Reply to this comment

by andie52 May 23, 2012 7:09 AM EDT

beautiful girl who probably never thought she was in danger by riding her bike at 2:00 am there are predators everywhere I wish woman would be more aware of the scum that are out looking for someone just like her-it makes me sick to keep hearing about young woman disappearing and taken by some wacko

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by tmccl May 23, 2012 7:31 AM EDT: But did she really ever go for a 2am bike ride... Seems like a smart girl.

by HurricaneZulu May 23, 2012 12:22 AM EDT

"LEARN PROPER GRAMMER so you don't looks so ignorrant while trying to act like a genius....."

Uh, lagirl02, that would be "grammar," not "GRAMMER."
And that would be "ignorant" and not "ingorrant."

Nice try on calling someone else out on proper grammar.

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by delila0417 May 24, 2012 10:46 AM EDT: Hurricane,

I think ladigirl02 was being sarcastic.


by lafayettetoday May 22, 2012 5:34 PM EDT: Unfortunately lagirl02 you are completely wrong. There have been many incidents in this town. You may not be old enough to remember this clearly, but a few years ago there was a cop running around town raping women. You may feel safe in Lafayette because of the family focused atmosphere, but it has never been completely safe. Sadly, this is going to be a huge wake up call for people like you. Best of luck to Mickey's family and friends.; Reply to this comment


by L-A- May 22, 2012 3:26 PM EDT: As girls I think we all have the right to move freely without worrying of perverts around. Is so sad to hear these kind of news and even sadder that we are always the focus of violent crimes. I hope she is found safe to be able to get back to her life & family...; Reply to this comment


by ALANA1017 May 22, 2012 2:47 PM EDT: I JUST WANT HER TO BE RETURNED HOME SAFE. THIS IS SUCH A HORRIBLE SITUATION. I PRAY FOR HER AND I PRAY FOR HER ENTIRE FAMILY. LORD LET HER BE RETURNED SAFE AND NOT HARMED. JESUS I KNOW THAT YOUR UNWAVIERING LOVE WILL BRING THIS YOUNG WOMAN HOME. THIS IS MY PRAYER TODAY AND EVERYDAY UNTIL THEY FIND HER.; Reply to this comment