Parents request help to find missing daughter
By MAUREEN SMITHE
Associate News Editor
Parents of a missing local teen are asking the Notre Dame and Saint Mary's communities for help finding their daughter. Michelle Tarnowski, a 17-year old Penn High School senior, has been missing since Nov. 15. She is presumed to be with her 31-year old softball coach Christopher Woods, who was reported missing on the same day.
The Tarnowski family wants Notre Dame and Saint Mary's students to distribute flyers in their home towns during Christmas break. Tarnowski's father, David Tarnowski, said the family has no idea where Michelle might be, but hopes the campus-wide effort will bring word of her disappearance to every corner of the country.
"We're devastated by this and we're trying to get her face and his face out to everywhere in the country. We want to bring her home safely," he said. "Please send them out and post them wherever you live."
David Tarnowski said no one has heard from his daughter since Nov. 15.
"This is completely out of character for her. She has tons of friends. She hasn't called any one of her friends or family," he said.
The flyers have pictres and physical descriptions of Michelle Tarnowski and Woods. Students can pick up flyers at the Lafortune Information Desk weekdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and this weekend from 12 pm to 8 pm.
"People have come and picked up some flyers. We have a lot of them so people can come anytime and pick up a stack to take home," said Kristin Caple, information desk worker.
The idea for the campus-assisted, nationwide distribution of the flyers came from family friends. Michelle Tarnowski's older brother is a sophomore at Notre Dame.
Woods, a Notre Dame alumnus, has since been charged with unlawful flight with a minor and now has an FBI-issued warrant out for his arrest.
Anyone with information about the case should call 1-800-843-5678.
All News Stories for Tuesday, December 11, 2001
