Police Search For Missing College Student

The Columbus Police Department is searching for 20-year-old Julie Popovich.  Police say she disappeared without a trace near the Ohio State University campus in Columbus, on August 11, 2005.

After spending a fun night out with her friends, Julie was last seen around 1 a.m. outside Ledo's Bar on North High Street near the University, getting into a car with a man her friends did not know. Julie's friends claim that the man had been hanging around Julie for most of the night.

According to the police report, her friends said they thought she knew the man. "She was at the bar with co-workers and friends, they did not get a good look at him. It did appear she left willingly," said Sherry Mercurio of the Columbus Police Department.

"She is not the type of person to just up and disappear and drop off the face of the earth. She is a responsible girl. She was close with her family," Mercurio added.

New Clue

New evidence has been found in Julie's case, that led police on a new search near Hoover Reservoir. An identification card was discovered near the Hoover Reservoir and could reveal new information about Julie's disappearance.

Because of this new piece of evidence, police have a new direction in the case.

According to sources close to this case, an ID was mailed to one of Popovich's friends. That friend called police because it's believed Popovich had that same ID with her the night she disappeared from a bar on North High Street.

Family Praying For Safe Return

Popovich is a part-time model and student and works at a Max and Erma's restaurant in Reynoldsburg.

"We look at these situations in three levels: she could be gone voluntarily and not want to deal with her family or whatever; she could be gone involuntarily such as being injured or in an accident and unable to call; or there could be foul play." Mercurio said.

Popovich's family and friends have distributed hundreds of fliers in her neighborhood in hope that someone will come forward. Her family has offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to her return.

"That's what we've got to do," Popovich's aunt, Dena Honeycut, told the TV station. "Talk to God, say our prayers, hope that she's going to come home safely."

"She had a number of events coming up that she was looking forward to attending. Those events have come and gone," Mercurio said.

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