NE NE - Jason Jolkowski, 19, Omaha, 13 Jun 2001 - #3

[MatthewTyler]

Jason's mom has said on FB that the cops believe it was some unsavory characters that he didn't know who happened upon him, but I just can't see that. Not just because of the sheer luck and coincidence it would take to find a stranger when he's on a changed schedule within a small time frame and flawlessly pull off a crime, but moreso for the aftermath. What reason do strangers have to hide his body so well? Just dump it in a field and be done. Nothing of his was ever used again-phone, bank card,- so did they kill him just for sport? Again, just doesn't seem likely.

I attached a screenshot here written by Samuel "Sherman" on FB. The background of the comment is that when his girlfriend was contacted by Omaha PD in regards to his identity, she thought the whole thing was a scam. She was contacted via FB messenger and didn't believe that the officer was real. Anyway, she posted screenshots of the whole exchange on her FB profile, and Sam commented in the comment section about his "missing" status. This was all back in early January.

Not sure if "someone killing people" is a credible thing, or if he was just making an assumption based on Jason being missing. Doubtful that that's what the police told him.

 

[MatthewTyler]

Looking at a map, I was surprised at how many ponds and lakes there are in/near Omaha. I wonder if any of those could have been a disposal site for the body. I know that's just pure speculation on my part, but it happened to cross my mind now for some reason and just figured I'd throw it out there as a possibility.

Unless it's a running body of water like a river, the body would have probably surfaced by now, no ? Even if it was weighed down with rocks or something, once it dissolved enough at least some parts would float up to the top. Also, the lakes and ponds seem to be mostly in/around public parks there, so someone surely would have seen something.

 

[retrometro]

Good find on the Samuel Sherman post, Matthew! The "someone killing people" line seems like an exaggeration, but it is interesting to see his perception of this case.

And yes, I concede that my "body of water" idea is unlikely for the reasons you mention. I just thought I'd throw it out there for the sake of sparking discussion.

 

[ekardh]

A lot is made of Jason's neighbourhood, but from what we've heard from people who lived there, it wasn't the Dodge City it's been made out to be. Not the kind of place where a grown- man can't walk down the street without getting randomly abducted.

 

[MatthewTyler]

A lot is made of Jason's neighbourhood, but from what we've heard from people who lived there, it wasn't the Dodge City it's been made out to be. Not the kind of place where a grown- man can't walk down the street without getting randomly abducted.

Agreed, random abduction just makes no sense. It sounds like a cop out (no pun intended) by the police for why they couldn't find anything in the neighborhood after waiting 10 days to start investigating. The Fazoli's shift change is likely a red herring at this point; it just happened to be the time when he was on foot. If we're looking at the profiled perp of "older single male living alone" , Jason had at least 3 or 4 of those just on his block. He also did have a few elderly neighbors who may not have heard or witnessed anything. Obviously it's all speculation, but given the circumstances, it seems the most likely. But then there's still the theory of him making a pit stop, but that too has flaws. Either of those scenarios still begs the question on why the perp chose that specific day to harm him.

ETA: the original reports say that 1 or 2 neighbors witnessed him taking in the garbage and starting his walk. I'd still love to know specifically who they are.

 

[ekardh]

But then there's still the theory of him making a pit stop, but that too has flaws. Either of those scenarios still begs the question on why the perp chose that specific day to harm him.

With the complete lack of leads in this case, we have to revisit the drawing board and scrutinize everything. I don't think the theory that Jason used the rendezvous at the school to make a detour is too flawed. I've seen several cases where seemingly innocent details can blow things wide open. It was always taken as read that Jason was just lousy at giving directions but this would mean he was a victim of chance, which is still possible but problematic in its own way.

Look at it this way, if Jason was involved with someone, it was obviously a secret relationship, as his family have never openly suspected anyone. The perpetrator must have been confident that no one knew that Jason was visiting him. Not unless Jason was randomly intercepted by someone. That's why I've speculated in the past that Jason was struggling with his sexuality. If he had only befriended someone from the church or wherever, why the secrecy? Is this the person Jason was visiting when he would disappear on long walks? I could be totally grasping at straws here, I know, but there is precious little else to go on.

 

[MatthewTyler]

With the complete lack of leads in this case, we have to revisit the drawing board and scrutinize everything. I don't think the theory that Jason used the rendezvous at the school to make a detour is too flawed. I've seen several cases where seemingly innocent details can blow things wide open. It was always taken as read that Jason was just lousy at giving directions but this would mean he was a victim of chance, which is still possible but problematic in its own way.

Look at it this way, if Jason was involved with someone, it was obviously a secret relationship, as his family have never openly suspected anyone. The perpetrator must have been confident that no one knew that Jason was visiting him. Not unless Jason was randomly intercepted by someone. That's why I've speculated in the past that Jason was struggling with his sexuality. If he had only befriended someone from the church or wherever, why the secrecy? Is this the person Jason was visiting when he would disappear on long walks? I could be totally grasping at straws here, I know, but there is precious little else to go on.

The rendezvous at the high school is very 50/50. On the one hand, the sheer coincidence of that being the nail in the coffin to allow whatever happened to happen is definitely frustrating. On the other hand, it's not that strange to see why meeting at the school would be easier. The girl who was picking him up didn't have a cell phone, so if she had gotten lost on her way to his house it would have been a lot of confusion to try to find each other. She was coming straight from the restuarant, so it's not like she could mapquest the directions either.
Jason seemed like a groomable victim to someone maybe acting as a father figure. Not so much for his age, but because of his mental and social disabilitites. Even if it wasn't a relationship per se, but even just someone who he maybe talked sports with. If Jason hung out with someone like that every so often (on these "walks"?) then it's not hard to imagine that they could have slowly been plotting something. Jason stops by on his way to the school, gets lured inside, and then things go bad. Or perhaps he's promised a ride. Personally I'd have an easier time believing that it was an innocent friendship on his end, and a nefarious groomer on the other, instead of a mutual secret affair. As for why that would need to be a secret, not sure. But no matter how the theories are spliced, creep in the neighborhood seems to still be most plausible.

 

[ekardh]

Jason seemed like a groomable victim to someone maybe acting as a father figure. Not so much for his age, but because of his mental and social disabilitites. Even if it wasn't a relationship per se, but even just someone who he maybe talked sports with. If Jason hung out with someone like that every so often (on these "walks"?) then it's not hard to imagine that they could have slowly been plotting something. Jason stops by on his way to the school, gets lured inside, and then things go bad. Or perhaps he's promised a ride. Personally I'd have an easier time believing that it was an innocent friendship on his end, and a nefarious groomer on the other, instead of a mutual secret affair. As for why that would need to be a secret, not sure. But no matter how the theories are spliced, creep in the neighborhood seems to still be most plausible.

It could've been that the perp took JJ's shyness and lack of girlfriend as signs that he was in the closet, and when JJ didn't reciprocate those feelings, it led to foul play, particularly if that person had a 'reputation' to protect.

 

[retrometro]

I personally am neutral on the point about whether Jason was struggling with his sexuality, but I agree that the above scenario of an innocent friendship with an older man who was grooming him makes a lot of sense. I could also envision a related scenario in which Jason stopped by the perp's house unannounced to drop something off or to say "hi" and saw something he wasn't supposed to (like drugs or ), which then led one or both of them to panic. It's still weird, but I agree with both of you that it's way more believable than an abduction by a stranger.

I'd have a much easier time believing the random abduction or gang violence theories if he had disappeared at 11pm rather than 11am. The fact that he vanished in his own neighborhood in broad daylight without any signs of a struggle suggests that he didn't believe himself to be in danger leading up to whatever happened.

 

[Alleykins]

Did they ever say what route Jason most likely would take to get to the high school? Did he have a favorite route or short cuts to get there?

 

[MatthewTyler]

Did they ever say what route Jason most likely would take to get to the high school? Did he have a favorite route or short cuts to get there?

Jason's mom has said that he passes Lake James Park, and that he goes down towards the Middle School, so this is mostly likely the path he would've taken. At N 50th Ave it has an opening to the school parking lots that he could have cut through before getting to the Middle School. However, if he was making a pit stop beforehand he could have taken a different path that day. The main issue with that idea is that if he was seeing someone beforehand, why couldn't it wait until later on. Why do it when he had only 15 minutes to meet his ride? Unless they were on the way.

 

[Alleykins]

Thank you.

 

[ekardh]

The main issue with that idea is that if he was seeing someone beforehand, why couldn't it wait until later on. Why do it when he had only 15 minutes to meet his ride? Unless they were on the way.

As I've proposed before, it could be that JJ had arranged to hang out with that person, and he didn't have any other means of notifying them.

 

[Miles21]

Jason's mom has said on FB that the cops believe it was some unsavory characters that he didn't know who happened upon him, but I just can't see that. Not just because of the sheer luck and coincidence it would take to find a stranger when he's on a changed schedule within a small time frame and flawlessly pull off a crime, but moreso for the aftermath. What reason do strangers have to hide his body so well? Just dump it in a field and be done. Nothing of his was ever used again-phone, bank card,- so did they kill him just for sport? Again, just doesn't seem likely.

I attached a screenshot here written by Samuel "Sherman" on FB. The background of the comment is that when his girlfriend was contacted by Omaha PD in regards to his identity, she thought the whole thing was a scam. She was contacted via FB messenger and didn't believe that the officer was real. Anyway, she posted screenshots of the whole exchange on her FB profile, and Sam commented in the comment section about his "missing" status. This was all back in early January.

Not sure if "someone killing people" is a credible thing, or if he was just making an assumption based on Jason being missing. Doubtful that that's what the police told him.

 

[Miles21]

I would just like you to know whoever wrote to you on behalf of Samuel Sherman is not who he says he is. It’s obvious the person who was texting and talking to you is trying to cover up themself, knowing where Sam still is. This fraud will do everything he can to try and cover up this story since it’s also in relation to Jason.

 

[Miles21]

I am sorry that it’s still so depressing.

 

[Andreee]

I would just like you to know whoever wrote to you on behalf of Samuel Sherman is not who he says he is. It’s obvious the person who was texting and talking to you is trying to cover up themself, knowing where Sam still is. This fraud will do everything he can to try and cover up this story since it’s also in relation to Jason.

Oh, I don't doubt that this 'Samuel' is probably not who he says he is. What makes you think the two cases are related, just out of interest? Are you from that area?

 

[Miles21]

Yes I am. And I have lived in the area since before and still now. I know things that were reported but were never investigated. For example: Jason, Sam and a female ( possibly Michelle) were seen walking together by kids on their bikes around 56th Street and Miami around the same time both Jason and Sam went missing. The authorities never once questioned those residents in the neighborhood or the kids after their siting was reported.

 

[Andreee]

Yes I am. And I have lived in the area since before and still now. I know things that were reported but were never investigated. For example: Jason, Sam and a female ( possibly Michelle) were seen walking together by kids on their bikes around 56th Street and Miami around the same time both Jason and Sam went missing. The authorities never once questioned those residents in the neighborhood or the kids after their siting was reported.

Interesting! I wonder if Jason's parents are aware of this. There are several websleuthers on this forum who are more acquainted with this case than I am, so perhaps they have comments on this or have more questions about it.

 

[Andreee]

Yes I am. And I have lived in the area since before and still now. I know things that were reported but were never investigated. For example: Jason, Sam and a female ( possibly Michelle) were seen walking together by kids on their bikes around 56th Street and Miami around the same time both Jason and Sam went missing. The authorities never once questioned those residents in the neighborhood or the kids after their siting was reported.

Please check back to see if others have comments about this. Thank you.