Help sought in finding college student last seen in Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. -- Authorities are seeking help in finding a University of Minnesota Morris freshman student.

Laura Ann Schwendemann, 18, has been missing since Wednesday evening, Oct. 14.

According to authorities, she was last seen at the Holiday Gas Station on 50th Avenue in Alexandria at approximately 9:29 p.m.

She is a from Starbuck and student at UM Morris, according to her Facebook page. The campus is about 40 miles southwest of Alexandria.

The Pope and Douglas county sheriff's office are investigating.

Anyone who has seen or had contact with her is asked to contact the Pope County Sheriff's Office at 320-634-5411 or the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 320-762-8151.

Hunters and farmers in the area are asked to call and report anything suspicious in the area, with a special interest in the townships of Holmes City and Solem in Douglas County and Nora and Ben Wade in Pope County.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office also is requesting assistance with locating a blue-colored residence with a statue approximately 3 feet tall near the end of the driveway. The statue is described as having blue clothing and a red hat.

This location is only being sought as a general area where Schwendemann may have been observed, according to authorities.