A girl disappeared from my alma mater a couple days ago, and thankfully she turned up alive today. There's a search going for the man suspected of abducting her, but it's not too often situations such as these end with the victim still alive. It's really nice to see a happy ending.
(CNN) -- Authorities in Madison, Wisconsin, said Wednesday night they were searching for a white male in his late 20s or early 30s in connection with the disappearance of University of Wisconsin student Audrey Seiler.
The suspect was believed to be within the perimeter that officers set up around a marshy area where Seiler was found alive earlier in the day.
Authorities said more than 150 police would keep the area secure overnight.
The suspect was believed to be armed with a gun and a knife, and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black hat and blue jeans, police said.
Seiler, 20, vanished from her apartment four days ago. She was found after a passer-by spotted her in the marshy area and called police.
Officer Shannon Blackamore said Seiler did not know her "abductor." He said she was taken at knife point and that a gun was implied, but not seen.
Seiler was treated at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison and released about five hours later.
The doctor who treated her said she was cold and had suffered lots of muscle aches because she had been "confined."
"She's really gotten through her ordeal remarkably well, physically," said Dr. Philip Shultz. He said she was given fluids because she was dehydrated.
"She already looks a lot better than she did when she came in. She's smiling a lot and is clearly a lot more comfortable," Shultz said.
The young woman's parents appeared at a news conference with police and thanked them, the media and volunteers for helping to locate their daughter.
"We're so grateful that Audrey is back safe to us," said Keith Seiler.
"Audrey is overjoyed to return back with us," he said, adding that she was "just relieved and glad to be warm, to see her friends and family. A bit surprised at the big hullabaloo."
"We're just thrilled that she's been found, and found alive," said Peter Spear, the university's provost.
Madison police spokesman Pat Malloy said authorities received a call from a citizen who "spotted her in a marsh area and thought it was unusual or suspicious and called the police."
Police quickly sealed off the area two miles east of the university and began combing streets, parking lots and nearby woods with their guns drawn.
Police in a helicopter used a thermal imaging device to try to spot the man, and at least one canine team tried to find a trail on the ground. SWAT team members employed an armored vehicle.
"We're just focusing on being together and holding each other and hugging each other," said Stephanie Seiler and her husband, Keith.
Seiler, an honor student at the state's flagship university, was last seen Saturday on a surveillance camera leaving her apartment without a purse or coat.
Her disappearance puzzled investigators because there was no sign of foul play.
Hundreds of volunteers, including many from Seiler's hometown of Rockford, Minnesota, took part in searches earlier in the week.
Seiler told police last month she was attacked from behind and knocked unconscious while walking outside after midnight.
She said she woke up behind a nearby building but was not robbed or otherwise hurt, police said. No one was arrested in the incident.
The university provost said the apparent kidnapping was unusual for Madison, a quiet college town that had its lowest crime rate in 30 years last year.
"This is quite unique for us," Spear said. "In fact, our crime rate here is well below average for universities of our size."
Last November, University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin, 22, disappeared after leaving her job at a Grand Forks shopping mall. She is believed to be dead, although no remains have been found.
Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, who was released from prison six months earlier after serving 23 years for the rapes of two women and attempted rape of another woman, was charged with her kidnapping.
(CNN) -- Authorities in Madison, Wisconsin, said Wednesday night they were searching for a white male in his late 20s or early 30s in connection with the disappearance of University of Wisconsin student Audrey Seiler.
The suspect was believed to be within the perimeter that officers set up around a marshy area where Seiler was found alive earlier in the day.
Authorities said more than 150 police would keep the area secure overnight.
The suspect was believed to be armed with a gun and a knife, and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black hat and blue jeans, police said.
Seiler, 20, vanished from her apartment four days ago. She was found after a passer-by spotted her in the marshy area and called police.
Officer Shannon Blackamore said Seiler did not know her "abductor." He said she was taken at knife point and that a gun was implied, but not seen.
Seiler was treated at St. Mary's Hospital in Madison and released about five hours later.
The doctor who treated her said she was cold and had suffered lots of muscle aches because she had been "confined."
"She's really gotten through her ordeal remarkably well, physically," said Dr. Philip Shultz. He said she was given fluids because she was dehydrated.
"She already looks a lot better than she did when she came in. She's smiling a lot and is clearly a lot more comfortable," Shultz said.
The young woman's parents appeared at a news conference with police and thanked them, the media and volunteers for helping to locate their daughter.
"We're so grateful that Audrey is back safe to us," said Keith Seiler.
"Audrey is overjoyed to return back with us," he said, adding that she was "just relieved and glad to be warm, to see her friends and family. A bit surprised at the big hullabaloo."
"We're just thrilled that she's been found, and found alive," said Peter Spear, the university's provost.
Madison police spokesman Pat Malloy said authorities received a call from a citizen who "spotted her in a marsh area and thought it was unusual or suspicious and called the police."
Police quickly sealed off the area two miles east of the university and began combing streets, parking lots and nearby woods with their guns drawn.
Police in a helicopter used a thermal imaging device to try to spot the man, and at least one canine team tried to find a trail on the ground. SWAT team members employed an armored vehicle.
"We're just focusing on being together and holding each other and hugging each other," said Stephanie Seiler and her husband, Keith.
Seiler, an honor student at the state's flagship university, was last seen Saturday on a surveillance camera leaving her apartment without a purse or coat.
Her disappearance puzzled investigators because there was no sign of foul play.
Hundreds of volunteers, including many from Seiler's hometown of Rockford, Minnesota, took part in searches earlier in the week.
Seiler told police last month she was attacked from behind and knocked unconscious while walking outside after midnight.
She said she woke up behind a nearby building but was not robbed or otherwise hurt, police said. No one was arrested in the incident.
The university provost said the apparent kidnapping was unusual for Madison, a quiet college town that had its lowest crime rate in 30 years last year.
"This is quite unique for us," Spear said. "In fact, our crime rate here is well below average for universities of our size."
Last November, University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin, 22, disappeared after leaving her job at a Grand Forks shopping mall. She is believed to be dead, although no remains have been found.
Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., 50, who was released from prison six months earlier after serving 23 years for the rapes of two women and attempted rape of another woman, was charged with her kidnapping.
