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Police release sketch in missing student case


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Police made this sketch from Seiler's description.

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Authorities find a missing college student alive in Wisconsin.

A church celebrates the return of missing student Audrey Seiler.

The mother of Seiler's roommate reacts to the student's recovery.
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University of Wisconsin

(CNN) -- Police in Madison, Wisconsin, released a composite sketch Thursday of a suspect described by student Audrey Seiler as the man who abducted her at knifepoint last weekend.

Assistant Police Chief Noble Wray said the investigation would continue into the four-day disappearance of the 20-year-old honor student at the University of Wisconsin who was found alive Wednesday.

"The Madison Police Department is investigating the reported sequence of events from Audrey and other witness statements," Wray said during a brief news conference at which he took no questions.

"Like in any other major investigation, there may be inconsistencies. But we are continuing forward with this investigation," he said.

"It is not our role, or the role of the police department, to speculate on the outcome of an investigation until it has been completed."

Wray urged anyone with information on the case to contact police. He said the Seiler family was "doing well."

Earlier, police spokesman Larry Kamholz said that while Seiler's disappearance has puzzled investigators because there was no sign of foul play, he stated that there was "no reason to doubt" her account of an abduction.

Seiler told police she was abducted at knifepoint by a man she described as a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, about 6 feet tall, and last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, black hat and jeans.

A security camera recorded Seiler leaving her apartment about 2:30 a.m. Saturday. She left her apartment door open, with her coat and purse inside, police said.

Despite the "unusual circumstances" surrounding the case, Kamholz said police were treating the investigation the same as any other.

In February, Seiler told police she was attacked from behind and knocked unconscious while walking alone outside after midnight.

She said she woke up behind a nearby building but wasn't robbed or otherwise hurt, police said. No one was arrested.

Shortly after Seiler was found Wednesday, authorities quickly sealed off the area and began searching streets, parking lots and nearby woods in an unsuccessful attempt to locate a suspect.

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Audrey Seiler

Hundreds of volunteers, including many from Seiler's hometown of Rockford, Minnesota, took part in searches this week.

Seiler was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon, and her parents expressed relief that the ordeal had come to an end.

"Right now, we're just focusing on being together and holding each other," said the student's mother, Stephanie Seiler on Wednesday.

After being reunited with his daughter, Keith Seiler told reporters, "Audrey was overjoyed to return back to us, just relieved, glad to be warm, to see her friends and family, [and] a bit surprised at the big hullabaloo. Other than that, she's just content right now."


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