N 50th Ave leads right into the high school grounds, and it too is somewhat secluded/not very traveledso, Jason could had taken any of these routes to the high school, if he got that far. his mother described him as shy and said he had a small handful of friends, so he doesn't seem like the type to have enemies or something like that. at the time of his disappearance he was a part time student in a community college in iowa, and he worked at a restaurant. Jason Jolkowski was a 19 year old from Omaha, Nebraska. At 10:45, Jason was seen bringing garbage cans in from the curb. Blood and/or post-impact drama are not needed. On June 7, 1992, Suzie Streeter, Stacy McCall, and Sherrill Levitt, "The Springfield Three," disappeared after a graduation party in the heart of the Bible Belt. His family founded Project Jason, a non-profit assisting families of missing people, in 2003. in 2003 his parents started a non profit called project jason but for unknown reasons the project went offline fairly recently. Jason was described as a 'homebody' by his mom, and was generally well liked by friends although he was noted to be pretty shy and reserved. Jolkowski has never been heard from again. Like I said maybe he saw something . Perhaps some predator of some sort got him into a home/building or more likely into a car and tricked him and/or took him against his will. Security cameras at the school do not show Jason ever arriving to campus. Remember, back in 2001 cell phones were hardly ubiquitous yet, so it really could go either way. This is easily the most baffling missing person's case I've ever come across mostly because of the tight timeframe and area constraints. Last updated January 11, 2019; picture added, age-progression updated. People paint rocks that have the hashtag #FindjasonJ to raise awareness about Jason Jolkowski's disappearance at Roberts Park in Omaha on Sunday. Thirty years later, we still have no answers as to what happened to them. ), and the perpetrators decided to get rid of him my bet is that he was offered a ride though. Jolkowski's mother described him as "shy", "a quiet boy" with only "a small handful of friends. This was a relatively straightforward walk in a pretty residential area, although there is a park on the way to the school (I will get into the relevancy of the park soon). Not common, but it does happen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Jason_Anthony_Jolkowski. If there was a river or other body of water of any size on his route I would bet a lot of money he ended up there. On December 23, 1974, Rachel Trlica, Renee Wilson, and Julie Ann Moseley went Christmas shopping. The Disappearance of Jason Jolkowski Revisited - The Unfound Podcast Channel The Disappearance of Jason Jolkowski Revisited Jason Jolkowski | Sam Sherman Missing 1-Month Later Nearby | Map Analysis Share Watch on The Disappearance of Jason Jolkowski Revisited Share Watch on Share this: Twitter Facebook Loading. Jolkowski's loved ones suspect foul play may have been involved in his disappearance. On June 13, 2001, 19-year-old Jason was on summer vacation at his familys home in Omaha, Nebraska, when he received a phone call asking him to come into work early. [8] As of 2022, the Omaha Police Department continues to investigate the case. They are very quiet and secluded residential lanes. No answers, no clues, just the reminder that it's officially been 20 years and no one knows what happened to Jason Jolkowski. Jasons parents waited to report him missing until the following morning because they believed (wrongly) that it was necessary to wait a full 24 hours before notifying the police. I would imagine that someone who did something like this would not be a one-time offender, and could be linked to other crimes. Everyone deserves hope.". [2][11] Kelly Jolkowski, Jason's mother, later received a Volunteer for Victims award from U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in 2010 and the Nebraska Governor's Points of Light Award in 2014 in recognition of her work to support families of missing people.[12]. Or Jason suffered a head injury that resulted in amnesia, which led him away from his life. If not, I think gang violence could be a possibility but I honestly doubt that no one would've noticed given how residential the area is. The third theory is a bit of an amalgamation of the two previously discussed. Jason was also said to have no interest in partying and no known involvement with alcohol or drugs at any point in his life. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of KETV-TV. He is described as a shy person who was not involved with drugs or alcohol and was close to his family at the time of his disappearance. MISSING: Dylan Rounds, 19, Idaho Falls, ID . AFAIK there arent any suspects or persons of interest in this case. Jason was last seen by a neighbor, Chester Link, who spotted him helping Michael, his younger brother, take the garbage cans back to the garage and then walking in the direction of the school at about 10:45 a.m. that morning. Between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m., Jolkowski's coworker called the house to find out why he hadn't met her at the high school. His mother described him as being quite shy, preferring to keep a small group of friends. I guess its possible a hit-and-run could have still happened, but it just seems weird that no trace of it was left behind and that no one in the neighborhood heard any kind of commotion. "There's no leads, nobody saw anything, and detectives just didn't find anything," said Donita Say. My first instinct was that someone probably offered him a ride and he met with foul play. Though it seems unlikely due to the time and place, but really, what else could've happened? Agree look to the people who knew and/or planned for his trip to work. This school was a short eight blocks from his home. While these could just be coincidences, someone he knew might had taken advantage of this changed schedule---I feel Jason encountered someone he knew along the way to meet his ride and willingly went with them, perhaps under the pretense of bringing him to the ride faster, or to work. Maybe Jason was intentionally struck by a car or picked up in a case of mistaken identity. Maybe Jason was intentionally struck by a car or picked up in a case of mistaken identity. Jolkowski is a man from Omaha, Nebraska, who went missing on June 13th, 2001, while walking to his former high school to meet up with a co-worker for a ride to work. ya, and the almost complete lack of publicity for the Sherman case, which happened only a month later is very, very odd. And then nothing. From the way he's described it seems he was a shy introverted kid who didn't have a large circle and kept himself to himself. A later check of security cameras at Benson High School show he never arrived on campus. I think he was walking toward the high school as he planned to and was intercepted by someone. Security cameras at the school do not show Jason ever arriving to campus. His vehicle was found locked and abandoned the next day and eventually his laptop and the computer's hard drive were recovered from the nearby Susquehanna River. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. I would be interested in reading thru an AMA with his mother. Though they were spotted that day in the mall, they have not been seen since and the vehicle they arrived in was left behind. How did Jason vanish in broad daylight during such a short window of time? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Jason Anthony Jolkowski was born on June 24, 1981 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Jason Jolkowski was a 19-year-old college student from Omaha, Nebraska who mysteriously vanished on June 13th, 2001 while on a walk between 10:45 AM and 11:30 AM. A ng man helped his younger brother with the garbage cans before heading off to meet a coworker for a ride. Security cam footage from Benson High School confirmed that Jason never arrived that day. The fact that the investigation was so delayed likely led to the loss of any clues that might have been found. Hope is your right until you know the truth, Jason's mom added. My thinking is that he got into a car. The boss was also questioned numerous times, but neither could provide any useful details or neither, at least of what was revealed, were complicit in Jason's disappearance or knew anything about itthough, I would be open to the possibility of the employer being tied to the disappearance. Unsolved American missing person case from Omaha in 2001, "Family to hold vigil for missing student", "12 Years Later- Jason Jolkowski Still Missing", "Missing teen's parents help other families cope", "Discovery of body could be 'at least an answer', "MISSING: 20 year anniversary of Jason Jolkowski's disappearance", "Family's Loss Inspires Law To Help Find Missing Persons", "Kelly Jolkowski, Mother Of Missing Teen, Recognized For Aiding Victims' Families", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disappearance_of_Jason_Jolkowski&oldid=1140851759, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2023, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 02:36. Is anyone familiar with the area or does anyone know what the park looked like at the time of his disappearance? his room was full of his belongings and there was no sign that he planned on leaving. I do wonder how often young adult men are sexually assaulted. Despite the enduring pain of their loss, Jason's family still remains hopeful that one day theyll have closure and definitive answers about what happened to their son. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. On Sunday afternoon, friends, family and neighbors gathered to share memories, paint and hide rocks with #FindJasonJ on them. When the perpetrator realized Jason wasnt who they thought he was, they killed and obscured his remains to hide their crime. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. She was witnessed that night by several motorists walking along the highway, but when one of them tried to talk to her, she ran into the nearby woods. I DIDNT REALIZE ITS BEEN 20 YEARS. Possibly saw something he wasnt supposed to (car being stolen, drug deal, burglary? Updated: 10:19 PM CDT Jun 13, 2021 Infinite Scroll Enabled Emily Tencer Reporter Sorry,. And he was never seen from or heard from again. Or someone who seemed helpless and actually wasn't. Police waited over a week with most sources stating the timeframe as nine days before beginning to investigate Jasons disappearance. It would have taken some time to load him into the boot, clean up any mess or evidence left behind etc. I do think Jason got at least as far as crossing Bedford Ave. On the other hand, we have a large park, Gallagher Park across from the front of the high school on N 52nd street and there is, at the immediate south-west of the high school very easy access to the NW Radial Highway (Rt 64) which leads out to I-680, 480 and Interstate 80 within ten minutes. Not a single shred of evidence. In the early morning hours of Valentine's Day 2000, nine-year-old Asha Degree left her home with a packed bookbag. "I don't understand how someone could just vanish with no trace, no foul play, nothing like that.". Jolkowski, circa 2001; Age-progression to age 36 (circa 2017). Jason's nickname is J.J. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. He has not cashed any of his paychecks, used his cellular phone or ATM card, or picked up his car from the auto repair shop since his disappearance. Ill try to sum up some basic facts of the case - Jason Jolkowski was a 19-year-old who lived in Omaha, Nebraska with his parents and worked at the fast food restaurant Fazolis. I also think it's foul play but I have literally no idea who it could have been; I was thinking that it had to be someone who knew his car was being repaired and knew he worked at the Italian restaurant but I think the only people aware of this were his boss, coworker and his immediate family, which I believe have all been cleared. There had been no additional sightings of him and there was no forensic evidence or even circumstantial evidence to work with in this case. This was the last definitive sighting of Jason Jolkowski. And by the time nine days had gone byany clues were long gone. "His brother also looked out the window and saw him walking in the direction toward Benson. He showered and dressed, and was last seen by his little brother bringing in the trash cans, as the trash pickup had taken place that morning. kind of thing I wonder if anybody would have even noticed. There is a website and foundation started by Jason's mother in 2003: http://www.projectjason.org/about/about-jason.html It gives details on Jason and the case of his mysterious disappearance near his family home in Omaha, Nebraska. Jolkowski's loved ones suspect foul play may have been involved in his disappearance. "There's no leads, nobody saw anything, and detectives just didn't find anything," said Donita Say. Jason was supposed to meet his female coworker at the high school around 11 AM, and was last seen by a neighbor returning trash cans into his house. Jasons family reported him missing after waiting for 24-hours (which was a common waiting period put in place by many police departments back in the day Im unsure if they were told directly by police to wait). No suspects have ever been identified in this case. He vanished without a trace. But, it does help keep his memory alive and people interestedsomeone out there knows something about this case. I think he either got into a car or went into a house during his walk and then for some reason didn't come back out. Jason never reached the rendezvous location and he was never seen again. He was studying part-time on a radio broadcasting programme in Iowa, as well as. Jason Jolkowski has been missing since 2001. Are there any available pictures of the pedestrian tunnel under 52nd and Radial? "So he was last seen taking the trash cans into his house and a neighbor saw him do that," said Say. -, Press J to jump to the feed. He also worked at a local Italian restaurant called Fazolis. He appeared to have originally planned on walking to work that day, but called the restaurant to say he would be getting a ride with a coworker. But every explanation I can think of here is just weird. There's a plaque and a tree at Roberts Park planted off the Keystone Trail in honor of Jolkowski. HOPING SOMEONE WILL COME FORWARD WITH NEW INFORMATION. After all, John Gacy had a number of victims who were in their late teens if not early twenties---so did Dean Caroll, who killed a number of young boys and men in Texas in the 1970s. This is easily the most baffling missing persons case Ive ever come across mostly because of the tight timeframe and area constraints. "So there's no way of knowing. jason jolkowski has never been seen or heard from since then. Since Jolkowski had trouble giving directions, he arranged for them to meet at Benson High School, which he and his co-worker had previously attended. Jason never reached the rendezvous location and he was never seen again. Not the best area in the city by far, but nowhere near the worst. Foul play is suspected in his case. "Someone does know something and we need someone to come forward and help alleviate all our pain," said Jim Jolkowski, Jolkowski's father.At the event Sunday, Jolkowski's father also asked the crowd to pray for the family of Ryan Larsen, saying he understands what they are going through right now. https://charleyproject.org/case/jason-anthony-jolkowski, https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/992083, https://www.wowt.com/content/news/Jason-Jolkowski-still-missing-17-years-later-485315181.html, http://www.kristenfoundation.org/cgi-bin/datacgi/database.cgi?file=hw&report=sp&ID=025, https://causes.benevity.org/causes/840-200256753, https://www.3newsnow.com/news/local-news/after-16-years-jason-jolkowski-still-missing?_amp=true, http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4727dmne.html, https://texasequusearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/JolkowskiJason.pdf, https://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/09/28/grace.coldcase.project.jason/index.html, http://www.omahacrimestoppers.org/sitemenu.aspx?ID=642&P=missing, https://fox42kptm.com/amp/news/local/17-years-later-omaha-man-still-missing. His car was undergoing work at a local mechanic, and because the shift was unplanned, Jason had to make arrangements for a ride. Nobody is really sure what exact route he took to the high school, or how far he got. Jason wasn't 100% what he wanted to do yet with his life, but was . He had a younger brother named Michael. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He had taken the spring semester off of college to work and save money, and he was doing just that- working at a local Fazoli's fast food restaurant and was preparing to start a job at SITEL. So what happened to him? This was a suburban neighborhood. "Say was 16 when her 19-year-old cousin disappeared.June 13 marks 20 years since Jolkowski was unexpectedly called into work and agreed to meet a coworker at Benson High School for a ride. On the morning of June 13, 2001, his car was in the shop, so he began his ten minute walk to meet a co-worker who would give him a ride to work. links: https://disappearedblog.com/jason-jolkowski/ https://medium.com/@wherearetheypodcast/the-bizarre-disappearance-of-jason-jolkowski-d5c27016cc1f?source=post_internal_links---------1------------------------------- https://charleyproject.org/case/jason-anthony-jolkowski, https://disappearedblog.com/jason-jolkowski/, https://medium.com/@wherearetheypodcast/the-bizarre-disappearance-of-jason-jolkowski-d5c27016cc1f?source=post_internal_links---------1-------------------------------, https://charleyproject.org/case/jason-anthony-jolkowski. Between 11:15 and 11:30, Jasons coworker called his home phone to ask where Jason was, as he hadnt showed up to the school to be picked up. Probably not connected, but another 19 year old white male went missing while living on the same street, about a mile away, about a month later. What happened to Jason Jolkowski? He worked at a Fazoli's restaurant on 80th and Cass Streets in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Then, the driver killed Jason either by accident or on purpose, worried he would tell about the encounter. He had a passion for broadcasting and the Chicago Cubs. I think the total lack of physical evidence points towards Jason leaving with someone willingly. A page on Charley Project shows an age-progressed photo of him with details: http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/j/jolkowski_jason.html, And this CNN ireport from 2011: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-562589. He had a younger brother named Michael. jason struggled with giving directions so he planned on meeting his co-worker at benson high school (which they both previously attended and graduated from). Wild guess, but I think that Jason was the victim of some random, horrible accident. Every time this case is shared on here there is always at least one local who comments and says the area isn't as safe as everyone thinks, so that's why I have always leaned towards foul play. Their point of contact for this case is James Reisinger, who can be reached at 402-444-5818. He pops in to help the person with whatever, is overcome, or maybe is assaulted and fatally hurt. As this theory goes, Jason was walking when someone stopped and offered a ride. On June 13, 2001, Jason Jolkowski was last seen walking to meet up with a coworker to get a ride to work. It was a seemingly normal day in June of 2001. Jolkowski is a man from Omaha, Nebraska, who went missing on June 13th, 2001, while walking to his former high school to meet up with a co-worker for a ride to work. "I remembered one time we had this idea to do a popsicle race at which color would melt the fastest and I know red one," recounted Michael Jolkowski, Jolkowski's younger brother. Jolkowski never made it to the high school, and he has not been seen or heard from since. I suppose it makes as much sense as any other scenario. They say he is too responsible to have left without warning, and he was not having any problems at the time of his disappearance. There is no history of problems with him outside of some school bullying. His family came first.. The route most likely for Jason to have taken is so straightforward it's very hard for me to think of any place somebody could hide a body or do whatever happened to him without anyone witnessing anything. The driver then hid Jason somewhere yet unfound. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This case feels as if its ice cold with no leads, but I have to believe that someone holds the key here. "Someone does know something and we need someone to come forward and help alleviate all our pain," said Jim Jolkowski, Jolkowski's father. and our He never showed up to the school and has never been seen or heard from since. If it was arranged by someone else than maybe she wasnt there to begin with and he was intercepted by the person last to see him. Jolkowskis mother has described him as shy, quiet boy with only a small handful of friends. Jason would had known the area very well. Though he did experience some communication difficulties throughout his childhood particularly when it came to speech and language expression- Jason is a highly intelligent person. Somewhere along that short, half-mile walk, that young man vanished. The fact that Jason disappeared in a fifteen-minute window in the light of day with no clues seems unfathomable. THATS A THAT' A LONG TIME CHESTER LINK FORMER. We have no evidence that anyone wanted to harm Jason, but the motive could have been something impersonal like robbery. Project Jason: https://projectjason.org Jason's Link at Project . The only other outside possiblity is an accident. His family insists he would not have run away and he had no known enemies or reasons why someone would want to kidnap or harm him in any way. Jason Jolkowski was born on June 24, 1981, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to parents Jim and Kelly. He did his household chores as usual up until the time he disappeared. On the morning of June 13, 2001, his car was in the shop, so he began his ten minute walk to meet a co-worker who would give him a ride to work. He had a passion for broadcasting and the Chicago Cubs. Jason was described as shy, intelligent, and kind by those who knew him. Surely if a car hit a person, someone nearby would have heard? At around 11:15, Jasons coworker called his house to ask where he was, as he was late in meeting her. Jim and Kelly Jolkowski with a framed photo of their missing son. Another possibility could be that some local kids who knew him maybe offered him a ride and fucked with him and it got out of hand, or maybe someone was just a local psychopath. "I didn't realize it's been 20 years. That's a long time," said Link. Honestly, I dont know how families do it. This is one of the most baffling missing persons cases Ive looked into so far, for a few reasons.