So last night we have FoxNews and MSNBC both covering the story. Investigators have what seems to be more than one "persons of interest". I hate that term. Lets call them what they are- a possible suspect. The political correctness of "person of interest" can be tossed.
Here's what we do know, despite the Columbus police keeping a bit quite on this one. They have moved her investigation to the homicide department. Not necessarily because they believe that there has been a homicide- but rather because according to them the homicide department has more resources. And because information leads them to believe Popovich went "unwilling" or was "forced" to go with a person the night she left a campus-area bar.
Source HERE
"....Monday morning, homicide detectives, along with missing persons detectives, attended a meeting with employees at Max and Erma's on East Broad Street, where Popovich worked.
The 20-year-old Popovich went missing August 11th from Ledo's and no one has he
ard from her since.Her friends are wearing yellow ribbons in her memory and are becoming frustrated that the case hasn't progressed since their friend went missing nearly two weeks ago.
Friends say Popovich was very drunk the night she left the bar. While dancing on the bar, she fell and hit her head.
She had attended another party that night and those people followed her to the bar.
Friends say these details may help someone remember seeing Popovich before she disappeared...."
At this time it does not appear to be someone she knew. Her boyfriend was suppose to meet her that night at the bar- but according to sources of the news- was working later than expected and not able to make it. Julie was surrounded by friends at the bar whom she normally would inform before she left that she was indeed leaving. The last known communication between anyone at the bar and Julie was around 1:15 in the morning when she informed someone she was stepping out for a smoke.
( I would like to point out that Columbus has a no smoking ban. On a Tuesday in May Columbus voters decided against Issue 2 that would allow for smoking inside places with a high percentage of alcohol sales..... this would explain to the unknowning why it would be that Julie had to "step out" for a smoke. Not trying to tie the issues together... just explaining the reason for it.)
SOURCE HERE
".......Popovich, a part-time model and waitress, was scheduled to start classes at OSU this fall. She disappeared from the bar, and 11 days later, she's still missing.
"When we started out, we were considering this a voluntary missing," said Sgt. Greg Estep, of Columbus police missing persons unit. "Based on some leads we've developed, we're now moving that up ... foul play is a possibility now."
Popovich's friends told police they saw her get into a car with someone they thought she knew, but details are still unclear.
Garcia: "Is it a sure thing that she got into a car with someone?"
Estep: "No, that's being looked at. We're getting a little bit of conflicting statements there."
Estep is now working with homicide detectives, branching out the investigation.
"We are concerned that (foul play) is now becoming a possibility," he said.
Police have interviewed her friends, family and her live-in boyfriend, who first reported her missing. Investigators are receiving tips and may be getting close to an answer.
"We have a person of interest that we're looking at," Estep said.
Until there is an answer, the mission is on to find Popovich safe........"
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