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

[MatthewTyler]

The only thing with the Jeremy Sheets theory is the probability that a vengeful lynch mob (or even just one person acting alone) was cruising through Benson at the exact moment that someone who liked like him was walking by. Kind of sounds like something out of a crime novel. If that did happen, I can only assume that once Jason explained who he really was, he was killed for the sheer fact that it was too late at that point and he had already seen his kidnapper(s), and his body disposed to completely erase that it happened. Otherwise, if they killed Jason with his identity still being mistaken then wouldn't they want to put his body somewhere it WOULD be found as to send a message? Not sure how long Sheets was in Omaha for after his release, but an article from that time stated that he was probably going to see his parents in Colorado. Not sure what ties he had to stay in Omaha. That could explain why the real Sheets was never killed after the mix-up.

 

[Andreee]

It would be good to get a list of all of the sex offenders at the time of JJ's disappearance who lived in his vicinity to peruse.

 

[Andreee]

It seems there is no information re his cell phone, other than he had one from what I've read.

 

[spearhead1030]

While I do see a resemblance between Jason and Jeremy Sheets, the odds of something like that occurring are just not high. I'll reiterate that I think the investigation needs to focus on (1) all the neighbors who lived within the triangle in 2001, independent of SO registry, and (2) anyone who lives within a certain distance of this triangle with a criminal record for violent/weapons-related offenses. I do think it's possible Jason could have been jumped with a weapon (by someone who has done this before) and led into a vehicle, but I think this would have been more of a mugging-type incident than any kind of vigilante mob.

As for why a neighbor could have chosen that day to abduct him: Omaha is a very Catholic, family-oriented community. This individual could have made a sexual advance on Jason, been rebuffed, and had a reputation to protect. It might not have been an abduction plan from the start.

I'm really split between being jumped with a weapon by a stranger and being either lured/abducted/impromptu killed by a neighbor he knew in passing.

 

[Gilderoy Lockhart]

20 years ago today Damn. Hopefully a lot of people showed up to the memorial JJ's mother arranged. It's awful enough to lose a child, but to lose one who just seemingly vanished? That's unbearable.

I should also add that were two people on Reddit who knew Jason (one from the radio station where he worked and a childhood friend) and spoke of him the same his folks did: great guy, low-risk victim, never would have run off, etc.

While I am of the belief JJ fell victim to foul play (abducted by someone nearby most likely), I think some kind of strange accident where his body was not seen is a lot more likely than some might think. You may ask how, same with me. But these weird, tragic incidents happen some time. Recall that man who went missing but ended behind a refrigerator at a grocery store. Or the way people (most likely) accidentally end falling into a body of water. There was not a real search for Jason by LE until 10 days or so.People get trapped sometimes. Horrible.

I'd love to see someone recording the walk from Jason's home to the high school.

 

[justinkjones1993]

Someone on reddit a couple of years ago who was living in Omaha in 2001 confirmed that there was some infrastructure work going on in Jason's neighborhood around that time regarding the septic system. In other words, it's entirely possible that there were some exposed manholes or something.

Again, the only problem I see with this theory is that I think by now LE or search crews would have followed this rather obvious lead and found something if it were there, but it's worth thinking about. Somebody really does need to get on the ground and film what Jason's path would have likely been. Just to give us a better visual of the surroundings.

 

[MatthewTyler]

Log into Facebook

The Facebook event page for Jason's event posted a couple of photos and a few videos from the day if anyone was interested.

 

[Alleykins]

Someone on reddit a couple of years ago who was living in Omaha in 2001 confirmed that there was some infrastructure work going on in Jason's neighborhood around that time regarding the septic system. In other words, it's entirely possible that there were some exposed manholes or something.

Again, the only problem I see with this theory is that I think by now LE or search crews would have followed this rather obvious lead and found something if it were there, but it's worth thinking about. Somebody really does need to get on the ground and film what Jason's path would have likely been. Just to give us a better visual of the surroundings.

Chances are slim he fell in a manhole. Not saying impossible or improbable, just unlikely if whoever working on the infrastructure was part of a union, worked for the city, or was a bona fide contracting company. For safety reasons, when they're being serviced, most are manned by two or more workers using safety equipment because there are dangerous gasses in them, and sometimes they're lead lined. A lot of safety measures goes into working in one, and they usually aren't left unattended by utility workers.
OSHA Fines Maine Employer $149,500 following Carbon Monoxide Poisoning at Bangor's Old Water Works Complex | Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Manholes can also contain other utilities, like traditional phone and electric cables, so any along Jason's route most likely have been accessed by them or public works in the past 20 years, and if he had fallen in one, he'd most likely have been found by now. It also appears the city cleans them out once in a while.
Sewer System - publicworks.cityofomaha.org

 

[dotr]

June 13 2021

'There's no leads, nobody saw anything': 20 years since Jason Jolkowski was last seen
''OMAHA, Neb. —
No answers, no clues, just the reminder that it's officially been 20 years and no one knows what happened to Jason Jolkowski.

"There's no leads, nobody saw anything, and detectives just didn't find anything," said Donita Say. "So there's no way of knowing."

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.

"So he was last seen taking the trash cans into his house and a neighbor saw him do that," said Say. "His brother also looked out the window and saw him walking in the direction toward Benson. And he was never seen from or heard from again."

Chester Link said he's that neighbor who saw Jolkowski walking toward the high school. He believes he could be one of the last people to see him that day.

"I didn't realize it's been 20 years. That's a long time," said Link. "I don't understand how someone could just vanish with no trace, no foul play, nothing like that."

There's a plaque and a tree at Roberts Park planted off the Keystone Trail in honor of Jolkowski.''

 

[morland_cath]

I live in town and have been thinking about walking along the path from Jason's house to the school when I have some spare time in the next few weeks. I suppose I could record it, but I'm not sure how good the video would be. You might just get a really good view of the sidewalk.

I think Jason's family was living around the corner of 48th & Bedford at the time, but anyone know the exact address?

 

[Andreee]

I live in town and have been thinking about walking along the path from Jason's house to the school when I have some spare time in the next few weeks. I suppose I could record it, but I'm not sure how good the video would be. You might just get a really good view of the sidewalk.

I think Jason's family was living around the corner of 48th & Bedford at the time, but anyone know the exact address?

3425 N 48th St, Omaha, NE 68104

 

[MatthewTyler]

June 13 2021

'There's no leads, nobody saw anything': 20 years since Jason Jolkowski was last seen
''OMAHA, Neb. —
No answers, no clues, just the reminder that it's officially been 20 years and no one knows what happened to Jason Jolkowski.

"There's no leads, nobody saw anything, and detectives just didn't find anything," said Donita Say. "So there's no way of knowing."

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.

"So he was last seen taking the trash cans into his house and a neighbor saw him do that," said Say. "His brother also looked out the window and saw him walking in the direction toward Benson. And he was never seen from or heard from again."

Chester Link said he's that neighbor who saw Jolkowski walking toward the high school. He believes he could be one of the last people to see him that day.

"I didn't realize it's been 20 years. That's a long time," said Link. "I don't understand how someone could just vanish with no trace, no foul play, nothing like that."

There's a plaque and a tree at Roberts Park planted off the Keystone Trail in honor of Jolkowski.''

Well at least now we have confirmation on which neighbor saw him last- which does make sense seeing as his house is right across from their driveway.

 

[Gilderoy Lockhart]

That must be the man Studebkr was speaking of. And this is the first time, to my knowledge, it's been established that both his brother and the neighbor saw Jason walking towards the school, not just bringing trash cans in.

 

[MatthewTyler]

I know it's been established that Jason didn't have much of a social circle, but it's kind of sad that everyone associated with that anniversary event and telling stories of him were his family and one childhood friend that he lost touch with around 9 years of age. There's not a single person that he worked with, went to school with, or even volunteered at the church with that either attended the event, submitted a story to be read on their behalf, or even posted about him on the site? Even throughout the years of seeing his parents post about him, I've only ever seen MAYBE 3 comments total from people who knew him through school or work.

 

[ekardh]

I know it's been established that Jason didn't have much of a social circle, but it's kind of sad that everyone associated with that anniversary event and telling stories of him were his family and one childhood friend that he lost touch with around 9 years of age. There's not a single person that he worked with, went to school with, or even volunteered at the church with that either attended the event, submitted a story to be read on their behalf, or even posted about him on the site? Even throughout the years of seeing his parents post about him, I've only ever seen MAYBE 3 comments total from people who knew him through school or work.

Which does reinforce my feeling that Jason might have been groomed by an older male. Usually happens to younger kids, ones who are isolated and from broken homes, but if Jason was lonely and did not have many friends, he could have been exploited by someone who took an interest in him.

 

[Andreee]

That must be the man Studebkr was speaking of. And this is the first time, to my knowledge, it's been established that both his brother and the neighbor saw Jason walking towards the school, not just bringing trash cans in.

 

[Andreee]

Yes, it made me think that Jason left directly after bringing in the trash cans. Unless the writeup got it a bit wrong about the neighbour seeing him leave, but either way, we assume he left!

 

[BethAnn777]

Hearing that he may have not have had many/any close relationships makes me consider self harm which I hadn’t really considered before. That day may have been the day that he just decided he was done. Of course, where he went from there is a big mystery. There have been people who have self harmed and were never found or found years later in unlikely places.

I notice that people who have never considered self harm are much easier to write it off as a possibility in missing person cases.

 

[ekardh]

Hearing that he may have not have had many/any close relationships makes me consider self harm which I hadn’t really considered before. That day may have been the day that he just decided he was done. Of course, where he went from there is a big mystery. There have been people who have self harmed and were never found or found years later in unlikely places.

Why take the shift at Fazoli's if he was planning anything like that? I know we could argue he wasn't thinking straight etc. but it doesn't really add up to me, particularly when there's no clue he was suicidal or depressed. Also, his body has never been found, and there were no sightings of him.

Within that short timeframe, he must have got taken by someone.

 

[Andreee]

I agree, and I also think IMO that it is one of the SO neighbours who lives in a house on the way to the school. I read that they have all been investigated, but unfortunately it was ten days after Jason went missing so that gave extra time for the perp to cover his crime. I just do not see any other explanation at this point that fits with all of the information given over the years.