Modeling sites link between missing women

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DENVER, March 3 (UPI) -- Three missing Colorado women all have profiles on online modeling websites, a National Women's Coalition Against Violence & Exploitation spokeswoman said.

Michelle Bart, the group's co-founder, said there are at least 13 or 14 cases in which the common link between missing girls and women is participation in modeling social networking websites, KDVR-TV in Denver reported Sunday.

Kara Nichols, 19, of Colorado Springs went missing Oct. 9; Raven Furlong, 17, of Aurora has been considered a runaway since Feb. 5; and Kelsie Schelling, whose empty car was found in Pueblo, was last seen Feb. 4, KDVR-TV reported.

Schelling apparently had a profile on the Explore Talent website, and the other two women had profiles on ModelMayhem.com, the TV station said.

Furlong's mother said the teenager called home in February, but the call wasn't normal. "She said she had to go because it's not her phone and they need their phone back," Lin Furlong said.

Internet Brands, which owns Model Mayhem, said it cooperates with all police investigations involving people on the website.

While the Better Business Bureau has given the website an "F" rating, law enforcement authorities have not officially linked the site to the women's disappearances.