Emily Sander, an 18-year-old freshman at Butler Community College in Kansas, went missing after Thanksgiving weekend. Family and friends searched for the girl, who was last seen leaving a bar in El Dorado, Kan. with resident alien Israel Mireles. Upon searching for Mireles, police only found a bloody motel room and an abandoned rented car.
Sander was a nude model, known as Zoey Zane for adult Internet sites. She was originally from Texas and did the modeling as a side job to get extra cash. Authorities said her ties with this industry have no link to her death but that Mireles is the main suspect. El Dorado police found evidence of foul play after entering Mireles’ hotel room where he was living outside Wichita, Kan. A search for Sanders began and her body was found 50 miles East of where she was last seen with Mireles, on November 29. Forensic examinations have been scheduled; a cause of death has not yet been released.
The search extended for Mireles and his 16-year-old pregnant girlfriend, who was also last seen with him. They are believed to be heading South as the 2007 Ford Taurus rental car the man was driving turned up on November 27 in Texas, near an area where he has family. Police expect Mireles to try and cross the border to Mexico, if he has not already done so.
Friends of Sanders have posted a public message on Sander’s website ZoeyZane.com. They are raising funds for a reward to be given to anyone who can provide information about Mireles. The announcement also declares outrage for the media attention that followed after Sander’s death and discovery of her nude modeling. She was typecast as a “porn star,” something that was unnecessary according to the post.
“Due to your irresponsible journalism and not checking your facts before sending out this info over the news wire, you have turned this into a PR feeding frenzy for the sole purpose of creating drama to draw in viewers,” reads the on-line message.
If no information that could help solve Sander’s case is obtained the money raised will be given to Sander’s family to be donated. Nonetheless, those who knew the young woman are committed to getting justice.
“[To Mireles] You can run, but you can not hide. Running to Mexico will not keep you safe from justice, you will be caught,” as the last message on Sander’s site said.