Police released Friday a timeline of the whereabouts of the University graduate student missing since last Wednesday.
Baton Rouge Police Department Cpl. Don Kelly said police constructed the timeline after talking with Carrie Yoder’s friends, family and co-workers. They also used evidence taken from her house and surveillance tapes from the Winn-Dixie on Burbank Drive.
The timeline said Yoder, a 26-year-old graduate studying in biological sciences, was in the Life Sciences building between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Monday. Police said she usually parked her car in the Parker Coliseum lot across Highland Road.
Police are unable to account for Yoder’s whereabouts between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. But, from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, police said she was shopping at the Winn-Dixie on Burbank Drive.
The timeline said Yoder was at her 4250 Dodson Ave. home from 5:15 p.m. until 7:45 p.m.
Kelly said Yoder could have been in her home later than 7:45 p.m., but this is the last time police can officially place her in her home.
The final information given on the timeline said friends entered and occupied Yoder’s home between 9:15 a.m. and 9:30 a.m Wednesday and filed a missing persons report at 9:25 a.m.
Kelly said police still are searching for more evidence from friends, family, neighbors and anyone who may have seen anything suspicious.
“For the past 48 hours, investigators have been attempting to learn her habits, usual and unusual behavior, through any source available, human or otherwise,” Kelly said Friday.
BRPD is working with other agencies in the investigation such as the Multi-Agency Homicide Task Force, LSUPD, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office even though this case still is a missing persons case.
BRPD Cpl. Mary Ann Godawa, spokeswoman for the task force, said the task force is in a support role at this time.
“The task force will continue in a support role until forensic evidence leads us otherwise,” Godawa said.
Godawa said in addition to offering support it is beneficial to the task force to be at a potential crime immediately because it gives investigators knowledge of what happened from the beginning and how evidence was collected.
The task force also is working the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit to create a victimology assessment, Godawa said. Police have worked with the BAU in the serial killer investigations.
A victimology is an offender’s “victim selection process,” which includes the victim’s risk levels, the risk level for the offender to commit the act, the degree of control exercised over the victims and the nature of the attack, said the BAU profile released in December.
Godawa said there was no forced entry at Yoder’s home, but police do not know if she knew someone and let them in or if she left her door unlocked.
Kelly said police have conducted canvasses and general searchers around Yoder’s home. Police also are using three helicopters to aid in the search for Yoder.
He said police conducted limited ground searches through canals and drainage ditches partially because they did not know any particular area to search and the weather was bad.
While police are searching for Yoder, University officials also are offering their resources to the investigation and to students.
Chancellor Mark Emmert said he met with members of the task force, BRPD, FBI, state police and other law enforcement officials involved in the investigation Friday to ensure everything is being done to secure the safety of students and the University community.
He said the University is putting together communications to describe a variety of steps everyone should take to ensure their own personal safety. The University also will expand upon the steps they took last semester when police linked the murders of three women to one man.
“We want to continue and expand things we have been doing such as the [Rape Aggression and Defense] programs, continue using all communication outlets to communicate with students and explore other programs we can launch,” Emmert said. “We are working very hard to make this a safe place for faculty, staff and students.”
LSUPD Capt. Mark Shaw said Emmert made a promise to give any resources for which investigators ask.
Three LSUPD detective have had seats on the task force since it began, Shaw said. LSUPD also assists in following leads if someone may be reported as a potential suspect.
Shaw also said no officers are specifically devoted to the task force but if needed officers would be placed on overtime.
During the next few weeks the University and BRPD will offer more safety seminars.
BRPD will offer a personal protection seminar March 18, from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Florida Boulevard Baptist Church.
Shaw said in addition to safety seminars, officers will be available for anyone else who would like them to talk.
“As long as people are asking for services we will comply,” Shaw said.
Emmert said people need to avoid going out alone and jogging around the lakes alone. He also said to report unusual behavior and if someone notices something suspicious to report it.
“We need people to willingly and actively report anything related to these cases,” he said.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding Yoder’s whereabouts to call the tipline at 1-866-389-3310 or 389-3310.