Missing Ann Arbor woman and her dog located unharmed, police say
A 29-year-old Ann Arbor woman and her dog missing since Oct. 13 have been located unharmed, Ann Arbor police said this morning.
Kimberly Lynn Ausmus and her Great Dane "Pluto" were found in Michigan, but no further information on their whereabouts was immediately available.
Det. Bill Stanford confirmed they were located and said media attention helped find them, but said he did not have additional details to release this morning.
On Friday, police distributed a missing persons poster asking for the public's help in locating Ausmus, who had been reported missing by her mother on Monday. She and her dog were last seen by family members on Oct. 13.
Police said Friday that Ausmus had never gone missing before, and a search of her apartment showed she didn't pack any clothes or other items to travel.
Comments
robyn
Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 10:26 a.m.
I think it's a bit weird for people to judge this woman without even knowing her. None of you know the personal circumstances of her life or what she may have been dealing with. There are people that just need to 'cut out' and take a break. I doubt they think people will go nuts with worry, I doubt if that even enters their mind. Having to 'explain' why they need to 'shut down and regroup' is only going to make everyone less willing to leave you alone... What's wrong. What's wrong. What's wrong. Not much quiet in that. Whatever her reasons - they are personal and no one is entitled to know them. I'm betting she's probably more embarrassed that she is the topic of a discussion like this - she probably NEVER imagined that her decision to 'chill out' would involve the police and all of this angst over it. The bottom line is - her family was worried, she is okay and the system worked. Everyone should be happy that the outcome was positive rather than any number of things that it could have been.
Rizzle
Mon, Nov 1, 2010 : 9:27 a.m.
@ Heather, not sure why you're personally offended. Wouldn't it have been better for your neighbor to tell you where she was, leave a note, answer her phone, make a facebook post, send a text message, rather than you spending 2 weeks being "frantic"? I know being "frantic" didn't cost you anything monetarily, but it probably was not fun was it?
Heather
Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 10:18 a.m.
I am personally offended when people say wasted tax dollars. Would it have been better if she showed up dead to see tax dollars well spent? Kim is my neighbor and friend. Personally, I have been frantic for the past two weeks. Having a loved one missing is the worst feeling in the world... You can't eat, sleep, think....Kim has a wonderful heart and I am glad she is okay....
Matt Cooper
Sun, Oct 31, 2010 : 3:14 a.m.
@eyehearta2: "Yesterday we were asked to focus on this life, not our lives. Any reasonable degree of followup would include where she was found and why she didn't tell anybody she was gone." So you think that being asked if you've seen her entitles you to know the details of her life? Get over yourself.
julieswhimsies
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 8:27 p.m.
@ummsw I agree completely. Your post was right on.
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 8:20 p.m.
glad she was found. now how about an email notification from wcsd to all the subscribers that got the 'alert' stating she had been found? otherwise, i'd still be looking.
ummsw
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 8:08 p.m.
Wow, I'm stunned by the quick rush to judgment made by several posters. If someone is dealing with a medical or mental health issue, I don't care if you are an adult, sometimes circumstances and life can become so over whelming and that coping skills disappear. This may not be the issue in this particular case, however couldn't we at least consider it as a possibility, instead of assuming the person is being irresponsible.
Bear
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 7:10 p.m.
Amen Robyn, and with that - good night.
robyn
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 7:01 p.m.
Glad she and Pluto are found and safe. I think this shows how well the police and the community handle things like this. She was 'lost' - the police and the news told the public and now her family and the police know she's okay. That's good. Also - it's always good to see a community come together out of concern for the well-being of one of the neighbors - even when it's someone they don't even know...
d_a2
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 6:54 p.m.
@bear this is a 29 year old ADULT, therefore she should act like an adult and let people know if she's going out of town. I learned that before i hit my teenage years, so no matter what you say yes this was a wasteful use of the police force. Saying "mom i'm going out of town for several weeks" like an adult would have prevented all of this "sadness" for the family. And since you seem to be so familiar with the story why don't you fill in the rest of us ignorant folks what really happened to her? You're talking like one of the family members
Bear
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 6:29 p.m.
I take that back, A2.com, I found my posts unmolested after I refreshed my browser. And d-a2, yes she was missing, it was not a normal thing, as I said, I know many of the people who were concerned for her. You don't have enough information to make your judgment anything other than your own opinion and that is the kindest way I can put that. So be smug all you want, your statement is still false.
Subroutine
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 3:26 p.m.
Another "Story" from AnnArbor.Com. Without any details at all. We don't know that she is "OK". Just that she is no longer missing. Maybe she just decided to hop in her car and leave town. Maybe she was taken by aliens. Maybe she robbed the bank the other day and was on the run or in hiding. My point is, without any details at all what is there to even argue about? Tax Dollars? Media coverage? We have no idea what went on here. Maybe save your opinions until such time as there are actual facts to comment on.
Rodney
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 3:18 p.m.
this isnt a waste of tax dollars, the police are paid whether there looking for someone or not, this actually give the police experience, glad she is found and that the police finished with a good ending along with a good citizen to call it in. glad she is found alive that is all we need is another killer running loose.
cinnabar7071
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 3:14 p.m.
If your going on walkabout tell someone. I learned this when I was about 5 years old. otherwise when you do go missing in a bad way nobody is going to be looking for you.
d_a2
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 2:47 p.m.
@bear how about you actually ask the woman that was involved and supposedly "missing" I bet you any money she'd think otherwise.
Bear
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 2:15 p.m.
d_a2, you haven't a clue. She WAS missing! For over a week! Her friends and family were beside themselves. You haven't a clue.
Bear
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
D_a2 and everyone else calling it a 'waste of tax dollars' and calling for somebody to be held responsible for their 'inappropriate actions' haven't a clue as to what you are talking about. Suppose the woman had a mental or medical condition? Would you be so quick to start clucking you tongues and pointing fingers and gossiping like hens? Whatever the situation, it is resolved and that is what community is all about, taking care of each other. I know people who were seriously worried about their friend going missing. We, as a community took care of and resolved this through the use of the press, fliers, the police and others. That is what a community DOES! If you are so worried about tax dollars, why don't you just opt out of this community and go live in a hole somewheres and just fester in your own hatred and distrust, because that type of attitude doesn't help the community, it actually hinders it. Such negativity has no place here and I feel sorry for people who live their lives out in such negativity; it must be miserable to hate all the time. She is found, she is whole and alive, let it go at that and quit clucking like an old hen.
d_a2
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:48 p.m.
okay to everyone saying "i hope you have a loved one go missing" SHE WASN'T MISSING!!
julieswhimsies
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:43 p.m.
Safe and sound. Good news!
nowayjose
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:31 p.m.
@ eyehearta2, if you were actually looking for Miss Ausmus (doubtfull) with only the desire to find out why she was missing, then I think you your intentions are suspect. The purpose was to make sure she was unharmed. If the reason for her disappearance isnt published than there is a reason. If it's a personal matter than get over it and don't look next time if all you want is a explanation.
bhall
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:24 p.m.
@Eyeheart2 So you'd only help in exchange for knowing intimate details of someone's life? What's wrong with you? Your level of help was really tiny (you read a blog and maybe kept an eye out for someone of her description if you left the house). Your demand for intimate details is really burdensome. You're asking to know things some of us wouldn't tell our friends. Just doesn't add up. Move along.
sbbuilder
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:23 p.m.
"Focus on your own lives." Ordinarly, I'd agree with you. However, the community at large was asked to help out. We were given dates, times, circumstances, descriptions etc. Now we are told to go back and 'focus on your own lives'? You can't have it both ways. If you want the community to help out, then you are obligated to provide more than 'all is well, now go back to home'. If you keep that up, you may find that there is less and less interest in the public in helping. I'm not saying that every salacious detail should be released, a la the tabloids. Perhaps more will be released soon.
Momma G
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:09 p.m.
I think it is up to her mom to give her the business about scaring her to death and not letting her know where she was, not the public. To d_a2, I hope you never have a loved one come up missing and if you do, hope you don't contact the authorities so that your tax money isn't "wasted."
Urban Sombrero
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 1:07 p.m.
Also, to those of you who are upset at the police getting involved in this: if this was your sister/your daughter/your friend who just up and disappeared one day, without a word to you or anyone else, wouldn't you want the police to intervene, or at least to help? I know I sure as heck would. Sorry for the epic run-on sentence, btw.
Urban Sombrero
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:53 p.m.
Just curious, how long does an adult have to be missing before the police investigate?
bhall
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:44 p.m.
@why no details? What do you people want to know? She was gone, and now she was found. Sounds like a personal issue. Focus on your own lives. As for police resources being used, the police alerted the community, which helped in them identifying her whereabouts. It sounds like the police handled the matter properly.
sbbuilder
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:33 p.m.
'The negative comments on this search are really good examples of the nasty greed that lies at the heart of the antitax position.' While the 'negative' comments may be ill informed, or ignorant, I hardly think they rise to the level of 'nasty greed'. Also, I would say that to link 'nasty greed' with 'anti tax' would be ill informed and ignorant. Why are there no details forthcoming on this woman? This was a very public story, with public participation encouraged. So, now that she is found, and safe, I'm wondering why the news blackout.
dexterreader
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:15 p.m.
Sometimes some things are more important than money... even if it is taxpayer dollars. People (including the police) just do what needs to be done. It's no different than many other situations police are called to resolve that taxpayers are paying for. I am glad she is ok. I'm sure it's a relief for her family and friends.
herman gardens
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:14 p.m.
It costs $220,000 a year per police officer in Ann Arbor, annarbor.com has alerted its readers, and it doesn't matter what they do with that time. Whether they are at the donut shop or diligently hunting down non-missing people, it still costs $220,000 a year per police officer. The real loser here is the public; when the police first ask for help and then say, Never mind and it's none of your business what really happened, they run the risk of next time being taken for the boy who cried wolf. I myself will be unlikely to repeat last night's episode, where I walked the streets until all hours yelling "Pluto! Here boy!" at the top of my voice.
d_a2
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:11 p.m.
@belgium thanks you
d_a2
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:08 p.m.
@myopinoin in this situation i agree with you, there probably was a minimal amount spent. @everyone else you're probably the same people that are ranting and raving about not having enough police coverage for real crimes (reference the bank robbery comment threads)
Belgium
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:06 p.m.
I don't think d_a2 was expressing a desire for someone to be found dead or hurt. That type of intellectual dishonesty in posing someone's argument is what's wrong with our political environment these days. Give people the benefit of the doubt. I think what was intended was, "if you're going to take off and people are going to worry and contact the police, show some responsibility and let the police know in advance so tax payers dollars are not wasted. It's called being a responsible member of society. That is part of the cost of freedom. The whole being responsible thing.
silverwings
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 12:03 p.m.
The negative comments on this search are really good examples of the nasty greed that lies at the heart of the antitax position.
getthefacts
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 11:21 a.m.
wow, I cant believe people are worried about tax dollars when they are trying to make sure a young woman is alive and safe...
BC
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
I wouldn't call finding a missing person a waste of tax money. I'd call it the police doing their job.
Lauren
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 11:01 a.m.
It's not wasted tax money when a search like this is successful- would you rather she had not been found, or worse, found dead? It's frustrating to hear people always complain about wasted tax money for things like this...until it happens to their own loved one.
MyOpinion
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 10:56 a.m.
@d_2 I don't think the police spent a lot of time on this. They said there did not seem to be evidence of foul play. When adults go missing you can put up "Missing person" posters and hope for some coverage by the press. It is really up to the families to keep the police involved if the person remains missing, but most of these cases end like this one.
d_a2
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 10:39 a.m.
so who's getting charged for all this wasted tax money?
FoxviewFarm
Sat, Oct 30, 2010 : 10:12 a.m.
Glad she is okay- and hope that all remains okay.