Mickey Shunick Missing As Police, Family Search For Louisiana College Student

Authorities in Louisiana are searching for a college student who disappeared while bicycling Saturday.

Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, a 22-year-old senior anthropology major at the University of Louisiana, was last seen at about 1:45 a.m. Saturday, when she left a friend's home on Ryan Street in Lafayette. Shunick was cycling to her home on Governor Miro Drive, a distance of about four miles, when she vanished without a trace, the Lafayette Police Department said.

Shunick is an avid cyclist and had regularly made the trip, her mother, Nancy Shunick, told The Huffington Post.

"She has a car but she likes to rides her bike," Nancy Shunick said. "She rides her bicycle everywhere, and the route she would have taken Saturday is not a bad area. It is one residential neighborhood after another."

Family members reported Mickey Shunick missing Saturday. They told police it was "uncharacteristic" of her to be out of contact with them. Shunick was also a no-show at her younger brother's high school graduation Saturday, an event her family said she was looking forward to attending.

"She is just a nice, normal kid. She has hung out with the same group of friends since kindergarten," Nancy Shunick said. "She works teaching horse-riding lessons to little kids and she attends school."

MICKEY SHUNICK PHOTOS: (Article Continues Below)

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• Mickey Shunick

  Authorities in Louisiana are searching for Michaela "Mickey" Shunick, a 22-year-old senior anthropology major at the University of Louisiana, who was last seen on the morning of May 19.

• Brandon Lavergne

  Brandon Lavergne was arrested on a murder charge in connection with Louisiana college student Mickey Shunick's disappearance.

• Mickey Shunick

  Mickey Shunick left a friend's home on Ryan Street in Lafayette, Louisiana on the morning of May 19. Shunick was cycling to her home on Governor Miro Drive, a distance of about four miles, when she vanished without a trace, the Lafayette Police Department said.

• Mickey Shunick

  Ashley Says and Brettly Wilson, friends of Mickey Shunick, give instructions to friends, family and other concerned volunteers at the beginning of a search party for Shunick, a 21-year-old woman last seen on her bicycle leaving Wilson's house on Ryan Street, pictured, in the early overnight hours Saturday in Lafayette. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Friends, family and other concerned volunteers begin a search for Mickey Shunick, a 21-year-old woman last seen on her bicycle leaving a home on Ryan street in the early overnight hours Saturday in Lafayette. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  A private donor is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Mickey Shunick's whereabouts, no questions asked.

• Mickey Shunick

  Volunteer and friend Ashley Says comforts Charlie Shunick, Mickey Shunick's sister, on Monday, Mickey's 22nd birthday. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Megan Wyatt, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Mickey Shunick is described as a white female, 5'1" tall and approximately 115 lbs. She has shoulder-length blonde hair and blue eyes. Shunick has a small tattoo of a bicycle on her right outer ankle and a nose ring on her left nostril. She was last seen wearing a pastel striped shirt, light wash denim skinny jeans, and silver ankle boots. She was carrying a light brown leather backpack, a black and yellow Vera Bradley wallet, a black Verizon slider phone and a small pink container of mace.

• Mickey Shunick

  Mickey Shunick's siblings, Charlie and Zack Shunick, investigate possible routes Mickey traveled on her bicycle early Saturday morning. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Megan Wyatt, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Friends, family and other concerned volunteers begin a search for Mickey Shunick, a 21-year-old woman last seen on her bicycle leaving a home on Ryan street in the early overnight hours Saturday in Lafayette. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Friends, family and other concerned volunteers begin a search for Mickey Shunick, a 21-year-old woman last seen on her bicycle leaving a home on Ryan street in the early overnight hours Saturday in Lafayette. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Mickey Shunick's siblings, Charlie and Zack Shunick, investigate possible routes that Mickey traveled on her bicycle early Saturday morning. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Megan Wyatt, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Ashley Says, left, and Lindsay Beggs, friends of Mickey Schunick, post flyers Sunday morning during a search Schunick, a 21-year-old woman last seen on her bicycle leaving a home on Ryan street in the early overnight hours Saturday in Lafayette. (<a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012205220313" target="_hplink">Leslie Westbrook, The Advertiser</a>)

• Mickey Shunick

  Police in the Lafayette area encourage anyone with any information regarding Mickey Shunick's whereabouts to contact them at 337-291-8600. Tipsters can also send an email to [e-mail].

• Ashley Says, Kim Schifino and Mickey Shunick

• Mickey Shunick with her brother Zack, her sister, Charlene, her father Mckey and her mom Nancy.

• Mickey Shunick and her sister Charlene

• Mickey Shunick and her sister Charlene

• Mickey Shunick and Raven Talley

• Ashley Prado, Marion Trosclair and Mickey Shunick

Nancy Shunick said her daughter's cellphone has not been turned on since Saturday morning.

The Lafayette Police Department did not immediately return calls for comment from HuffPost Monday. Speaking with The Advertiser on Sunday night, Lafayette Police Department spokesman Paul Mouton said investigators have few clues.

"We are following up leads, trying to determine if they are valid, but we have no new information at this time," Mouton said.

Dozens of volunteers conducted a search for Mickey Shunick on Sunday. They retraced the route she would have taken on her bike -- a black, Schwinn Madison, fixed-gear bicycle with glittery gold handlebars -- and canvassed surrounding streets. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to locate any sign of the student, her bike, wallet or other belongings. Those search efforts continue today.

Nancy Shunick said she is fearful something terrible has happened to her daughter.

"I think that someone saw the opportunity and grabbed her," a tearful Shunick told HuffPost. "She does carry pepper spray, but someone might have overpowered her."

A private donor, the parent of one of the children to whom Mickey Shunick teaches horseback riding, is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to Shunick's whereabouts, no questions asked.

"Please take the money and give us back our daughter," Nancy Shunick said, appealing to the person responsible. "Today is her 22nd birthday and we would like to have her home. Take the money and run. Whatever has happened, we'll fix it."

Mickey Shunick's family has created a Facebook page devoted to the search. The family is encouraging members to share information and pass out downloadable fliers. As of today, more than 1,000 people have joined the group.

Shunick is described as a white female, 5-feet-1 and approximately 115 pounds. She has shoulder-length blond hair and blue eyes. Shunick has a small tattoo of a bicycle on her right outer ankle and a nose ring on her left nostril. She was last seen wearing a pastel striped shirt, light-wash denim skinny jeans and silver ankle boots. She was carrying a light brown leather backpack, a black-and-yellow Vera Bradley wallet, a black Verizon slider phone and a small pink container of pepper spray.

Police in the Lafayette area encourage anyone with any information regarding Shunick's whereabouts to contact them at 337-291-8600. Tipsters can also send an email to [e-mail].

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Comments

[B5utterfly]

10:40 PM on 05/28/2012

No, it wasn't smart to ride 4 miles home at 2 am. A flat tire at that time could leave a person stranded & in danger as well. However, everyone has done things that can be considered 'not the smartest or kind of dangerous.' The difference is this turned out bad, so those same people start pointing fingers at the victim. It's sad. Think of the family & friends of this beautiful, young girl. I pray she is found, safe.

[tchoupitoulav1]

11:34 PM on 05/29/2012

AGREED!!!!!!! F&F!

[ambabanana]

02:24 PM on 05/25/2012

The only reason the national media probably picked this up is because Mickey's friends and family are being proactive and reaching out on every single media outlet. You think GMA would have come down here had we not been blowing up Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc, since Saturday night? Probably not. But we got on, started spreading the word, started searching for Mickey in every way we know how, exposing the case. That's how national news picks up on these things now. I encourage everyone who knows of someone who goes missing to jump on the social media sites immediately and start causing a flurry because that's where journalists are going for stories nowadays.

[Alan Nixdorf]

11:36 PM on 05/23/2012

White womens life is important!

[DNA1004]

01:52 PM on 05/24/2012

Oh so I guess the other news story about the dark haired Mexican girl in California isn't important, right? She is all over the news and she is still missing too yet you don't see us bashing her news coverage. People need to stop bringing in race. The reason this is all over is because of her friends and family going straight to social media. They are viligent and so is the close knit community of Lafayette.

[blizzard man robot voice]

10:02 PM on 05/24/2012

I guess the news only covers what people care about most.

[gregreveal]

07:44 PM on 05/23/2012

Sad. Cute girl. I hope she's ok (but doubt it). A lot of predators out there.

[degirl]

07:37 PM on 05/23/2012

well the news just said she was last seen leaving the house at 2am. why do young girls head out their doors at 2am? just wondered.

[frenchyfoof]

04:06 PM on 05/23/2012

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world we live in!

[the pariah]

02:37 PM on 05/23/2012

It's about time college women start arming themselves. If not with a gun, then a taser, hard core pepper spray, etc. Guns work wonders on would be kindappers, rapists and murderers.

[eaglespark]

10:25 PM on 05/23/2012

"Right now (March 17th, 2011), Nevada's colleges and Universities are considered weapons-free zones. Even if you have a permit for a concealed weapon, you can't bring it on campus. But a group of Nevada lawmakers wants to change that.
Amanda Collins testified to the Senate Government Affair committe in support of SB 231, which would allow concealed weapons on campuses.
She was raped by James Biela, who's now on death row for the kidnap, rape, and murder of 19-year-old Brianna Denison.
The rape happened at gunpoint in a parking garage on the UNR campus in October of 2007.
Collins was actually licensed to carry a concealed weapon at the time, but she didn't have her gun with her that night. She told the committee she didn't want to break the law by bringing it on campus..."

"Collins said she would have been carrying her firearm and would have defended herself that night had campus rules permitted it.
'I know at some point during my attack I could have stopped it,' said Collins. 'Had I been able to do so, two other rapes would have been prevented and a life could have been saved.'" http://www.nevadanewsbureau.com/2011/03/17/rape-victim-to-testify-on-campus-carry-law/

[profanegirl]

04:43 AM on 05/24/2012

According to all the reports I've read, as I have a lot of friends in Louisiana who are involved with the search for Mickey, she was carrying a can of pepper spray.

[rkeeeballs]

02:04 PM on 05/23/2012

God speed..hope it works out.

[shaire99]

01:58 PM on 05/23/2012

It is truly a shame that women really are not safe when they are alone enjoying life and minding their own business.

I wish the crazies of this world didn't exist but they absolutely do and that messes up life for the rest of us.

I hope for the very best outcome possible for her.

[lmayj]

10:07 AM on 05/23/2012

no women are safe anymore...you cant go anywhere it seems

[DoUntoOthers]

11:20 AM on 05/23/2012

I disagree. Are you saying this because this girl disappeared? I agree it's scary & sad, but if you let these rare stories influence your every move... what type of life is that?

[timo96]

06:06 AM on 05/23/2012

must every conversation on hp devolve into a racial argument?

[whatwould jc do]

11:17 AM on 05/25/2012

It would appear so.

[Evelyn C]

02:50 AM on 05/23/2012

Well, if she had done this often as the article said, she might have gotten complacent with her safety. If she was grabbed, this was either a crime of opportunity, or she was stalked. Someone may have known her movements and habits, just by observing her. I hope all this is conjecture and she returns safely to her loved ones.

[Qayum Zargai]

02:13 AM on 05/23/2012

Sure she would come back since no one, as a man, wants to hurt or assault an innocent and powerless young female except sexually. And that's what everybody knows.

[IAmWallis]

02:11 AM on 05/23/2012

According to the minority consensus, because Mickey is white and has blonde hair, “forget" her”. Because some unnamed hypothetical black or latino person somewhere could possibly have gone missing and their family, friends, and community didn’t come together to spread the word and instantly organize themselves in a manner that would draw as much attention to the situation as possible, well once again… “forget" her.

No, "forget" your racism. Skin color is the last thing that matters in a situation like this. What matters is that she is found as soon as possible. Also, "forget" all the victim blaming. Just because she was riding in the middle of the night like she and countless others do in the area daily does not give anyone, at any point, any reason to do anything to her. AT ALL.

You’re mad some black girl got abducted? Go pass out fliers. You’re mad the media didn’t talk about it? Call everyone you know and get on the local morning show and evening news like her family did. Make viral videos like her friends did. I went to UPS completely across town yesterday and there were photos on every single terminal and on the door. I saw Papa John's pizza boxes tagged on Facebook with her photo on every single box leaving that particular location. Your lazyness, YOUR apathy is the reason those people aren’t getting the attention they need. Quit blaming the victim, quit blaming the skin color. Get up and help.

[glitterik]

04:37 AM on 05/23/2012

That needed to be said. Thanks.

[DNA1004]

01:54 PM on 05/24/2012

Very well said!

[powercosmic]

02:09 AM on 05/23/2012

Uh, these things usually end badly...she's probably already in a shallow grave by the side of the highway...

[Sunnyhorse]

12:39 PM on 05/23/2012

Really, you felt the need to tell us all this?