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

[Andreee]

Fantastic.
What to make of this?....

I just make from this that Jason was reserved and quiet at work, focussing on the job at hand. But from many people he knew, that he was also described as nice, kind and helpful.

At the very least, it could explain why nobody from Fazoli's ever spoke out or attended memorial events for him- they simply just didn't care.

 

[Andreee]

dbm

 

[Andreee]

Absolutely.
Also, was thinking about something odd.and to
The person who was to pick him up at the high school. She called the house again after he didn't show up.
He had a cell phone. Did he not give her (or Fazoli's) that number?
I would have thought so, unless he didn't want to be bothered of course.
Just an oddity? Or is it known that she did try his cell phone?

I believe the way it went, was that the gal picking him up had to go to a nearby gas stn. and called in to Fazoli's mgr. to tell him JJ never showed up, and that the mgr. himself called JJ's home. This leads me to believe JJ didn't have his cellphone even turned on. Back then I think there were more of those flip phones, and they weren't as constantly used, and texting wasn't as prevalent. IMO. Even the gal picking him up didn't have a phone on hand.

 

[Gilderoy Lockhart]

Other than Stedbkr and MatthewTyler, I don't think anyone knows more about JJ's case outside his family.

It's too bad nobody asked Jason's co-worker what he thinks happened. And what he's holding back from the message boards?

 

[Alleykins]

I still had a bag phone back in 2001, which stayed in my car for roadside emergencies. Definitely didn't use it the same way then as I do now, because you paid for minutes, and, of course, because today's bells and whistles weren't available back then. It's possible Fazoli's didn't have his cell phone number.

 

[Alleykins]

I wish there was a way to verify if that poster was legit. Don't mean to cast doubt, but some people will make stuff up for attention. If it's to be believed, though, and if I'm reading the post right, it sounds like Jason may have worked the day before he disappeared? Did anyone else catch that and interpret it the way I did?

 

[Andreee]

Other than Stedbkr and MatthewTyler, I don't think anyone knows more about JJ's case outside his family.

It's too bad nobody asked Jason's co-worker what he thinks happened. And what he's holding back from the message boards?

lol it's funny you should mention that! I just read MatthewTyler's post above re. the coworker (not the one who was to pick JJ up, but the other coworker who commented). So since I'm a member at Reddit, I wrote to him in private message there to ask for more info., would be lucky to get some kind of reply. I do think it is legit post though. p.s. Don't know if JJ worked there the day before, interesting 'take' on that, don't think it's ever been asked before).

 

[Andreee]

I still had a bag phone back in 2001, which stayed in my car for roadside emergencies. Definitely didn't use it the same way then as I do now, because you paid for minutes, and, of course, because today's bells and whistles weren't available back then. It's possible Fazoli's didn't have his cell phone number.

True. Also, apparently JJ had left radio program to earn more money to continue the course, so he was minimizing cellphone charges IMO.

 

[MatthewTyler]

Other than Stedbkr and MatthewTyler, I don't think anyone knows more about JJ's case outside his family.

It's too bad nobody asked Jason's co-worker what he thinks happened. And what he's holding back from the message boards?

Someone actually did ask in that Reddit thread what the OP thought happened, but it got hidden due to downvotes, which I don't understand.

 

[Andreee]

There was a detective assigned to look over this case, and I assume other unsolved cases as well, back in 2018. I wonder if he has come up with anything, as he put out a call for anyone who has information about it to call him. Do you think it would be out of line to contact him and ask about if there is any progress, etc. He also has a twitter I think, so perhaps through there.

 

[ekardh]

Wayback Machine

I used the WayBack Machine and found Jason's profile on the radio station website from back when he was on the air. The text is hidden in the white space, so in order to read his info you have to click and highlight in the white space. Nothing super significant, but it's just some fun facts about him. One thing of interest I did note was that in his "likes" section he put Email and Internet. I definitely think he had some sort of second life online. He also says he likes making people laugh and being honest. The last instance of JJ's profile being up was Feb 2001. On March 30, 2001 his profile is gone from their site, meaning sometime in Febuary or March is when he dropped out of the program.

ETA: the link I posted only brings you to the 89.7 homepage, so when you click the link, go to the left side of the page and click on "Who's on" and then scroll the people until you see "JJ".

Definite sense of nostalgia looking back at those 2000s-era websites. When the internet was a simpler technology and everything wasn't poisoned by social media. And putting it in the context of Jason's disappearance adds another layer of melancholy. It's really been far too long without any answers.

 

[retrometro]

The last instance of JJ's profile being up was Feb 2001. On March 30, 2001 his profile is gone from their site, meaning sometime in Febuary or March is when he dropped out of the program.

This makes me curious to know about his time at Iowa Western. @MatthewTyler, are you certain that he was enrolled in Spring 2001 classes? It would be unusual (though certainly not unheard of) for a student to withdraw mid-semester; doing so could indicate some sort of personal issue or academic problems. Another possible explanation could be that he didn't enroll in Spring 2001 and it just took the webmaster a while to take down his profile. Not that it means anything; just curious.

 

[Andreee]

This makes me curious to know about his time at Iowa Western. @MatthewTyler, are you certain that he was enrolled in Spring 2001 classes? It would be unusual (though certainly not unheard of) for a student to withdraw mid-semester; doing so could indicate some sort of personal issue or academic problems. Another possible explanation could be that he didn't enroll in Spring 2001 and it just took the webmaster a while to take down his profile. Not that it means anything; just curious.

I believe, and Matthew can correct me if I am wrong, that Jason needed to shore up his finances before he could continue with the radio program.

 

[Rtael]

I believe, and Matthew can correct me if I am wrong, that Jason needed to shore up his finances before he could continue with the radio program.

That doesn't really answer the aspect of if he withdrew mid-semester, unless he he started for a couple of weeks and then when tuition came due (I think that's usually a few weeks into the semester?) he wasn't able to afford it.

 

[Andreee]

That doesn't really answer the aspect of if he withdrew mid-semester, unless he he started for a couple of weeks and then when tuition came due (I think that's usually a few weeks into the semester?) he wasn't able to afford it.

I am sure Matthew Tyler can answer that next time he comes here

 

[MatthewTyler]

This makes me curious to know about his time at Iowa Western. @MatthewTyler, are you certain that he was enrolled in Spring 2001 classes? It would be unusual (though certainly not unheard of) for a student to withdraw mid-semester; doing so could indicate some sort of personal issue or academic problems. Another possible explanation could be that he didn't enroll in Spring 2001 and it just took the webmaster a while to take down his profile. Not that it means anything; just curious.

I'm not 100% sure on that. You're right though, usually if one cannot pay for a semester, they would know that ahead of time and not re-enroll. That could be the case here. Either way I don't think it's related to his disppearance at all.

 

[studebkr]

Absolutely.
Also, was thinking about something odd.
The person who was to pick him up at the high school. She called the house again after he didn't show up.
He had a cell phone. Did he not give her (or Fazoli's) that number?
I would have thought so, unless he didn't want to be bothered of course.
Just an oddity? Or is it known that she did try his cell phone?

In 2001 cell phones were expensive to use. My work phone only had 100 hours a month I could use. There was very little unlimited calling. I often would ask if I could call a person back on a land line. Conversations were short.

Still, it would have been a great tool for giving directions. You have a point there. If it was an "emergency phone" why wasn't it with him?

 

[Andreee]

In 2001 cell phones were expensive to use. My work phone only had 100 hours a month I could use. There was very little unlimited calling. I often would ask if I could call a person back on a land line. Conversations were short.

Still, it would have been a great tool for giving directions. You have a point there. If it was an "emergency phone" why wasn't it with him?

I was under the impression the cellphone was with Jason but was not used, and that his parents tried to call it. Not sure of that, IMO.

 

[Alleykins]

I keep having to remind myself that people didn't have their phones glued to their hands 20 years ago.

 

[Cupofcare]

He did go missing on the one day he walked. I mean that is kind of odd. Obviously it was a neighbor that watched him. I can't decide if the neighbor lured him into a house with a baseball bat, or drove after him when he saw him walking. As a 6'2 male he probably had no fear getting into the guy's car. Likely it was an older man too like a little grandpa & he thought "oh what could this dude really do to me." Possibly even he thought it was a really polite gesture and didnt want to seem rude by declining. Then the man likely made a detour claiming he needed to pick up his wife or something. I guess the guy had nothing to lose... offering a ride as a friendly old neighbor who was just on their way to the supermarket or something, really wouldn't have come off as that suspicious. If Jason declined the ride & walked on he would likely not have given it a second thought. He'd not have been thinking "oh that guy's probably a predator".