Dec 31, 2022 On June 13, 2001 in Omaha, Nebraska, is where 19-year-old Jason Jolkowski was last seen by anyone. 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. Jason never reached the rendezvous location and he was never seen again. She never saw him and surveillance footage from the school showed that Jolkowski never arrived. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. Of course, that debris could have been cleaned or scattered by the elements in the time it took the police to begin investigating. I suspect foul play as well. The third theory is a bit of an amalgamation of the two previously discussed. Reading this particular synopsis I was immediately struck with thinking the female coworker he was meeting must know more. 12, 2021 at 10:46 AM PDT. He believes he could be one of the last people to see him that day. I want to say the simplest thing that happened here was some kind of hit-and-run - Maybe Jason was struck by a car while walking to the school, and the driver panicked, took his body and disposed of it somewhere its never been found. 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. I feel like he was maybe picked up by a neighbor who he had agreed to do something for like maybe help them take their trash cans back inside or help them lift/move something, something with their car, and then as a return favor they offered to give him a ride to the high school to meet his work colleague who was coming to get him. Some people try to take hope away from you. He stood at around 61 tall and weighed around 165 lbs. Unfortunately, I think this goes forever unsolved. My first instinct was that someone probably offered him a ride and he met with foul play. The fourteenth anniversary of the disappearance of Jason Jolkowski recently passed us (he disapeared June 13, 2001). But his family and friends were certain that he wouldnt have run away, explaining that his family meant everything to him and that things were going well in his life. He usually drove to work, but on that day his car was getting repaired, so he had arranged for a coworker to pick him up at a school close to his parents house. What makes this case so sad, yet baffling is Jason disappeared in broad daylight in his own neighborhood, while walking to his former high school to be picked up for a ride to work by a co-worker. his car was still at the auto repair shop and his last paycheck was not picked up. he only had $60 on him when he went missing. As mentioned before, there is a park on the way to the high school from his home. "I don't understand how someone could just vanish with no trace, no foul play, nothing like that.". I have to laugh at those comments. If you or anyone you know have any information regarding Jasons disappearance, please contact the Omaha police department in reference to Case Number RB85214T. in the days leading up and on June 13th seized the opportunity. It is not a bad area, it just isn't. Missing From: Omaha, Nebraska Missing: June 24, 2001 . 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. Jason Jolkowski was born on June 24, 1981, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to parents Jim and Kelly. As I understand, the co-worker who was giving him the ride was questioned extensively--more than anyone else in fact. He was walking towards his old high school to meet a coworker for a ride. Sherman was born in 1982, so likely was class of 2000 or maybe 2001, but he probably went to another high school. I have absolutely nothing to support this belief. 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 then 19-year-old was walking seven blocks from his . But this seems weird because 1) it means no blood or other physical evidence of Jason being struck was left in the street, and 2) it means all of this happened in the middle of the day in a populated neighborhood with no one noticing. I would be interested in reading thru an AMA with his mother. 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. When trying to determine what happened in any given case, I tend to go by Occams razor - the simplest explanation or the explanation that makes the fewest assumptions is likely the correct explanation. MISSING: Dylan Rounds, 19, Idaho Falls, ID . 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. Refresh the page, check Medium 's site status, or find. Jim and Kelly Jolkowski with a framed photo of their missing son. Jolkowski also had learning disabilities which caused him to have trouble with speech and language. You would just see who would start laughing. A neighbor saw him carry the cans into the garage at his house in the area of 48th and Bedford Streets. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. "So there's no way of knowing.". 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. This is easily the most baffling missing persons case Ive ever come across mostly because of the tight timeframe and area constraints. "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.The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children created an age-progression photo that shows what Jolkowski would look like now at the age of 39. No answers, no clues, just the reminder that it's officially been 20 years and no one knows what happened to Jason Jolkowski. He has no known enemies. He had a passion for broadcasting and the Chicago Cubs. I could also see him thinking he may be late to work and accepting a ride from someone who said they would take him (provided he got to the pickup place a little late and his co worker was not there). He reportedly had learning disabilities speech and language disabilities (I was mistaken when I originally said learning disabilities; apparently his speech disabilities made him seem like he had a mental handicap when he didn't) and was described as gullible at times. Maybe he was lured into a home by someone he knew, at least casually. Not even a stream, or a drainage culvert. No answers, no clues, just the reminder that it's officially been 20 years and no one knows what happened to Jason Jolkowski. So what happened to him? This was 2001 it wouldn't have been as simple as shooting the girl a text saying "I got a ride already on my way". 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. 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. Possibly saw something he wasnt supposed to (car being stolen, drug deal, burglary? At the same time, I dont think he would have been able to make it far from any accident scene without being seen and recognized, let alone not being recognized for so many years after. Privacy Policy. Honestly, I dont know how families do it. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Security cameras at the school do not show Jason ever arriving to campus. His car was undergoing work at a local mechanic, and because the shift was unplanned, Jason had to make arrangements for a ride. Police waited over a week with most sources stating the timeframe as nine days before beginning to investigate Jasons disappearance. In the early morning hours of Valentine's Day 2000, nine-year-old Asha Degree left her home with a packed bookbag. According to the blog Disappeared, the authorities initially assumed that Jason was just another teenage runaway and did not begin to investigate his disappearance until 10 days after he went missing. #LostIsNotAlone FOUND SAFE: Kelsie Sinnett, 25, Katy, Texas . Although suicide is an option, it would be a very short timeframe for him to take his own life, not taking into consideration how he had arranged to be picked up already. the omaha PD suspect foul play but there is no body, no clues, and no evidence. This case does get a lot of publicity because Jason Jolkowski was not the typical victim. He lived on the 3600 block of Bedford Ave, close to Jason's family. As of 2023[update], Jolkowski's whereabouts remain unknown. Jolkowski never made it to the high school, and he has not been seen or heard from since. And he was never seen from or heard from again.". He lived close to Jason and the high school, was the same age. Did they die in the fire? I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW SEONEOM COULD JUST VANISH WITH NO TREES. Agree look to the people who knew and/or planned for his trip to work. Thirty years later, we still have no answers as to what happened to them. In the early morning hours of December 25, 1945, the Sodder family's home burned down. Project Jason: https://projectjason.org Jason's Link at Project . [4] It was reported that he planned to eventually become a radio DJ for KIWR. NO ANSWERS, NO CESLU. Incredibly frustrating all around. She helped push through LB 111. However, nothing I have ever read has actually stated where the co-worker intended to meet Jason. On the way out the door of his family's residence, he decided to help his younger brother take trash cans into the garage. and our On June 13, 2001, Jason Jolkowskis manager called him into work earlier than expected. Many articles mention Jason had a hard time giving directions, so the high school was a logical spot to meet. 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. Maybe Jason was intentionally struck by a car or picked up in a case of mistaken identity. (Im typing on my phone so I apologize if the formatting is off. My general impression from reading of this case is that Jason was perceived as a little younger than is actual age of nineteen (almost 20), despite his 6-foot frame at 165lbs. From what we know about Jason he doesn't seem like the kind of guy who would want to inconvenience people or let people down so it's possible the neighbor had offered a ride all the way to work but he's knows he's made arrangements to be collected from the high school so he says down the block to the high school is fine so as to not put out the girl who was already on her way to get him. I believe this is my first write-up so please take it easy on me. Jason never reached the rendezvous location and he was never seen again. his room was full of his belongings and there was no sign that he planned on leaving. Jason would had known the area very well. 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. [4][5] The school was eight blocks (about 0.5mi (0.80km)) from his home. During the summer of 2001, Jason was staying at his family's house and he was working part-time at an Italian fast-food chain restaurant. As much as I want to believe that Jason is alive out there somewhere, I dont think he would have left his family in the dark for this long if he knew who he was. What is more is Sherman had a job interview that day (which he went to) but never returned home. According to Jasons friend, Amanda Goodman: He loves his parents and his brother more than anything in the world. No history of drugs, no history of being involved with anyone unsavory. I suppose it makes as much sense as any other scenario. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. On June 13, 2001, Jason Jolkowski was last seen walking to meet up with a coworker to get a ride to work. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. That poor family. Kevin Cole Trina Leech with a heart-shaped. His car was undergoing work at a local mechanic, and because the shift was unplanned, Jason had to make arrangements for a ride. On Sunday afternoon, friends, family and neighbors gathered to share memories, paint and hide rocks with #FindJasonJ on them. He didnt have any enemies and people described him as friendly. 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. Despite circumstantial evidence pointing to his stepmother, the case remains unsolved. Might be interesting to look up if any other crimes were reported in the area that same day. In the aftermath of his disappearance, Jolkowski's parents successfully campaigned for "Jason's Law", a statewide database for missing people in Nebraska. Included on the site are some names ripped from the headlines, including Brendan Gonzalez, Amber Harris and Jason Jolkowski. I would imagine that someone who did something like this would not be a one-time offender, and could be linked to other crimes. Jason was also said to have no interest in partying and no known involvement with alcohol or drugs at any point in his life. Maybe he was seen as an easy target due to his shy nature as well. 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. Nothing else had been taken from his bedroom. 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). He disappeared while walking from his family home towards his former high school to meet his ride for work. He was last seen leaving his family home travelling in the direction of his former high school, where he was supposed to meet his ride to work. 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. He left $650 behind in his bank account, which has not been touched since his disappearance. I agree that suicide would be next to impossible for several different reasons, including nowhere to hide on the route. His photo is shown age progressed to 36 years. 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. Jolkowski never made it to the high school, and he has not been seen or heard from since. People who have been following disappearances and missing people for some time will probably be aware of his case, but here's a quick rundown from his Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Jason_Anthony_Jolkowski. Jason was not known to be street smart and was generally trusting..and it could had even been someone he knew. This was at 10:45 a.m. Wild guess, but I think that Jason was the victim of some random, horrible accident. the police first considered it a runaway scenario but 10 days after his disappearance they began interviewing neighbors and friends and conducting searches but nothing came out of it. He has no known enemies. Or Jason suffered a head injury that resulted in amnesia, which led him away from his life. At around 10:45 AM he helped his brother pull some trash bins from the curb into the garage and then set off on the eight-block trek from his home to the high school where a coworker had arranged to pick him. there's a huge divide between West Omaha and north/east Omaha. I DIDNT REALIZE ITS BEEN 20 YEARS. "On June 13, 2001, Jason Jolkowski called his workplace, Fazoli's, stating that he made arrangements for a coworker to pick him up for his shift at Omaha Benson High School, where Jolkowski had previously attended school, due to his car being at the auto mechanic's.The school was eight blocks from his home. Jolkowski was supposed to start a new job a week after he vanished, and was excited about it; he never showed up to begin work there. You would say one word, and it was usually something silly. But every explanation I can think of here is just weird. Lol it's not the best area but it's not a bad area. Hmm, interesting. The fact that the investigation was so delayed likely led to the loss of any clues that might have been found. more like highly connected jason 6foot 1605 second victim 6 ft 160 both 19 from the the same street. I'm not quite sure who arranged what, but it was agreed upon that Jason would make around a 15 minute walk from his home on N 48th St to a nearby high school called Benson High Magnet School. [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]. [6] Under an hour later, between 11:15 and 11:30a.m., his co-worker called his house stating that he had failed to turn up at Benson High for the ride to work. Someone in Omaha saw something that day, or knows someone who let something slip. https://charleyproject.org/case/jason-anthony-jolkowski. He did his household chores as usual up until the time he disappeared. The police interviewed friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers, but were at a loss to explain what had happened to Jason. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. This was a suburban neighborhood. How did Jason vanish in broad daylight during such a short window of time? I have wondered if this too somehow factored in. the area around his school is very quiet and it's reported to have little pedestrian or vehicle traffic. He had no more than $60 on his person on the day he disappeared, and no personal items were missing from his room. Jolkowski's loved ones suspect foul play may have been involved in his disappearance. They think, well, you should be over that by now, you should be back to normal. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. Or someone who seemed helpless and actually wasn't. Their point of contact for this case is James Reisinger, who can be reached at 402-444-5818. The fourteenth anniversary of the disappearance of Jason Jolkowski recently passed us (he disapeared June 13, 2001). On June 13, 2001, Jolkowski was called into work early. Has anybody tried to contact authorities to get them to reveal more about this guy's case? it's important to note this, it was reported that jason had a mild learning disability with his speech and language but according to his parents he hwd above average intelligence. Since then, and despite me avoiding superlatives in most forms, I have called Jason's case the most mysterious Unfound has featured. There had been no additional sightings of him and there was no forensic evidence or even circumstantial evidence to work with in this case. "So he was last seen taking the trash cans into his house and a neighbor saw him do that," said Say. He was a part-time student at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and dreamed of becoming a radio DJ one day. AFAIK there arent any suspects or persons of interest in this case. Jason Anthony Jolkowski was born on June 24, 1981, in Grand Island, Nebraska. Blood and/or post-impact drama are not needed. "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. 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). The driver then hid Jason somewhere yet unfound. Shortly after his disappearance, the school's security cameras were checked, but none of them showed Jolkowski arriving at the school". at the time of his disappearance he was a part time student in a community college in iowa, and he worked at a restaurant. I tend to believe he somehow met up with foul play, but it also seems so unlikely to me? Jason Anthony Jolkowski was born on June 24, 1981 in Grand Island, Nebraska. http://www.projectjason.org/about/about-jason.html, http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/j/jolkowski_jason.html. That, or he was forced into a car. And by the time nine days had gone byany clues were long gone. Police waited over a week with most sources stating the timeframe as nine days before beginning to investigate Jasons disappearance. 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. "Someone does know something and we need someone to come forward and help alleviate all our pain," said Jim Jolkowski, Jolkowski's father. Jason Jolkowski was a 19 year old from Omaha, Nebraska. The third theory is a bit of an amalgamation of the two previously discussed. ), Good video on the case from YouTuber Shauna Rae. The wiki article gives much of the same info as this write up. 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. 20 years, thats two decades.. Not a single shred of evidence. [2] At the time he disappeared, Jolkowski was living in his parents' home on 48th and Bedford Street in the Benson neighborhood of Omaha. Jolkowski was born in Grand Island, Nebraska. He had a passion for broadcasting and the Chicago Cubs. he graduated from high school, was attending community college, and was able to hold down a job i think his disability wasn't severe enough to disrupt his work and school. 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. Something random like this is always possible, but no one in the neighborhood reported hearing or seeing a vehicle accident in the middle of the day. Maybe Jason was intentionally struck by a car or picked up in a case of mistaken identity.