NE NE - Jason Jolkowski -19 - Omaha - 13 Jun 2001 - #4

[deadinthewater]

Jason's case always comes back to my mind, and it makes me very sad. With the traction on cases like Jennifer Kesse and the Yogurt Shop Murders (still can't believe they solved this one..), I just pray Jason's parents get some answers before they're gone.

 

[Austin023]

I've long thought whoever was responsible (and I think foul play was definitely involved), was someone either Jason knew in some capacity or lived nearby. I suspect he was being watched during the days his car was in the shop and he was getting to work by other means (which I've not been able to really confirm how he got to work those days, specifically).
The fact nobody claimed to see him walking the probable routes he'd take to get to the high school parking lot (where his coworker was waiting) make me wonder if he was lured into a car or house near his own home. Maybe on the same street he lived on. I think he knew the response person, in some way.

Also, there is the alleged claim that when the Fizolis manager called the house, to ask him to cover a shift, that Jason's younger brother actually had answered the phone and pretended to be Jason until confronted. If true, I found that strange given the eventual circumstances....dies anyone know anything more about this specific tidbit?

 

[LisMarit]

I've long thought whoever was responsible (and I think foul play was definitely involved), was someone either Jason knew in some capacity or lived nearby. I suspect he was being watched during the days his car was in the shop and he was getting to work by other means (which I've not been able to really confirm how he got to work those days, specifically).
The fact nobody claimed to see him walking the probable routes he'd take to get to the high school parking lot (where his coworker was waiting) make me wonder if he was lured into a car or house near his own home. Maybe on the same street he lived on. I think he knew the response person, in some way.

Also, there is the alleged claim that when the Fizolis manager called the house, to ask him to cover a shift, that Jason's younger brother actually had answered the phone and pretended to be Jason until confronted. If true, I found that strange given the eventual circumstances....dies anyone know anything more about this specific tidbit?

About being someone he knew: I definitely agree. It was probably someone who had been keeping an eye on him and targeted him, and that day the perfect opportunity presented itself. About the brother pretending to be him, I read that after he realized the co-worker was genuinely very worried, he stopped pretending.

 

[Austin023]

About being someone he knew: I definitely agree. It was probably someone who had been keeping an eye on him and targeted him, and that day the perfect opportunity presented itself. About the brother pretending to be him, I read that after he realized the co-worker was genuinely very worried, he stopped pretending.

I know a certain house near the Jolkowski residence was later searched by police in relation to the disappearance, but nothing was found apparently. But it would NOT surprise me at all if the answer to his disappearance was right on his own neighborhood. As for his body, I think it was removed to a rural location, like a rural property, as many suburban and city people own old farms and such in the rural areas outside Omaha.

 

[Valiant]

I've long thought whoever was responsible (and I think foul play was definitely involved), was someone either Jason knew in some capacity or lived nearby. I suspect he was being watched during the days his car was in the shop and he was getting to work by other means (which I've not been able to really confirm how he got to work those days, specifically).
The fact nobody claimed to see him walking the probable routes he'd take to get to the high school parking lot (where his coworker was waiting) make me wonder if he was lured into a car or house near his own home. Maybe on the same street he lived on. I think he knew the response person, in some way.

Also, there is the alleged claim that when the Fizolis manager called the house, to ask him to cover a shift, that Jason's younger brother actually had answered the phone and pretended to be Jason until confronted. If true, I found that strange given the eventual circumstances....dies anyone know anything more about this specific tidbit?

I believe if you look back through all the information in the thread you will find the following answers.
Jason's parents, I believe specifically his dad, was taking him to work. That was planned for that day until Jason was asked to come in early.
The brother pretending to be Jason was an odd coincidence. He didn't want anyone to know he was home alone so he pretended to be his older brother when he answered the phone.

 

[Andreee]

I believe if you look back through all the information in the thread you will find the following answers.
Jason's parents, I believe specifically his dad, was taking him to work. That was planned for that day until Jason was asked to come in early.
The brother pretending to be Jason was an odd coincidence. He didn't want anyone to know he was home alone so he pretended to be his older brother when he answered the phone.

From what I understand, the brother was joking around, as younger brothers do, pretending to be Jason. And like you mention, he may've not wanted anyone to know he was home alone. Just an unfortunate coincidence. And yes, the parents had been taking Jason to work and back.

 

[kelx99]

Could this person have attended the same church as Jason at the time? Jason seeing this person, would have stopped and possibly accepted a ride.
Attended/volunteered at the church (2001)
Did/does work in the Benson area, owns locations around the area.
Sad thing is even a possibility. It was 2001 and nothing was done for nearly 2 weeks. Any possible witnesses or data are gone.

 

[ekardh]

My working theory for awhile has been that Jason had plans that morning. He was planning to see someone and work his shift at Fazoli's afterwards. When he got called into Fazoli's early, he decided to take that shift, and he had to change his plans. He asked to be picked up at Benson High School as it was on his route to this person's house, and it gave him time to quickly stop by and notify them. For whatever reason, this person didn't take kindly to Jason standing them up, or they had already planned to abduct him that morning, and this accelerated things. Why it had to be that specific morning they got rid of Jason, I have no idea. Perhaps certain provisions had been made, and this person felt a sense of urgency.

It obviously wasn't anyone known or suspected by Jason's family and friends. Even though the colleague at Fazoli's was waiting for Jason, and his absence would soon be noted, this person felt confident enough to kidnap Jason there and then without attracting attention. Obviously, this would be risky and there would be an element of luck involved, insomuch that no one witnessed Jason going into their house. But no one saw anything that morning to place Jason after he took the garbage cans in.

Every year I wonder with a heavy heart if there will be any progress made in Jason's case, or whether he be forever lost to time. For those who think he suffered a freak accident, the odds are he will never be found. For those who suspect foul play, there is a slither of hope his remains are found or someone confesses, but with each passing year that hope feels vanishingly distant.

 

[Alleykins]

My working theory is a nearby neighbor, within close proximity to his own home but out of sight/earshot of it, offered him a ride and things went south. It's possible the encounter started out without nefarious or ill-intentions, but escalated, ending with Jason's disappearance. I think it would have been an older man, familiar with Jason, either retired or with a flexible work schedule. Someone on the periphery--not well known to Jason or his family, but known enough to that Jason would have trusted him upon a closer encounter and accepted a ride, if offered, then be able to slip under the radar. There are a couple of houses close by where he could have been approached without too many people witnessing it due to landscaping and the angle.

To me, this is the simplest explanation compared to clandestine meetings or an unknown lover. From the outside looking in, it appeared random, but this neighbor could have been watching (even listening) to the Jolkowskis for years, saw an opportunity, and made a move.

 

[kelx99]

I really think he was intercepted by someone he knew in passing,maybe someone from his church or a person who worked in the Benson area and had a "safe" reputation. If that person pulled over and offered him a ride or asked for a quick minute of help, Jason’s helpful nature would’ve kicked in and he would have trusted them. <Modsnipped- need source>

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Welcome to Websleuths, @kelx99!

<Modsnipped- original post edited>

if anyone abducted/harmed him, they had a lot of time to eliminate evidence. Sadly.

 

[ekardh]

My working theory is a nearby neighbor, within close proximity to his own home but out of sight/earshot of it, offered him a ride and things went south. It's possible the encounter started out without nefarious or ill-intentions, but escalated, ending with Jason's disappearance. I think it would have been an older man, familiar with Jason, either retired or with a flexible work schedule. Someone on the periphery--not well known to Jason or his family, but known enough to that Jason would have trusted him upon a closer encounter and accepted a ride, if offered, then be able to slip under the radar. There are a couple of houses close by where he could have been approached without too many people witnessing it due to landscaping and the angle.

To me, this is the simplest explanation compared to clandestine meetings or an unknown lover. From the outside looking in, it appeared random, but this neighbor could have been watching (even listening) to the Jolkowskis for years, saw an opportunity, and made a move.

I struggle with the theory of an opportunistic neighbor deciding to abduct Jason, particularly someone he was not on close terms with. Apparently, Jason liked to take long walks in the evening. If anyone was planning to kidnap him, that would be the time to do it. Not when he's leaving his house in broad daylight. Jason was not easy prey for a random predator. Abductions of that nature tend to involve victims who are smaller, isolated, or vulnerable. It feels statistically and practically unlikely for a spur of the moment abduction.

For me, when putting together a working hypothesis, I look at what was different that day. What was out of the ordinary? Jason never disappeared during his normal routine. He only disappeared after his plans got changed and he was called into work early. Now, maybe that was just a coincidence, but it's the one variable that changes everything. Then I look at Jason asking to be picked up at Benson High School. That's often explained as Jason being poor at giving directions, which is a possibility, but choosing a pickup spot also gives him the freedom to make a detour if needed, especially after his schedule unexpectedly changed. Obviously, I don’t know why Jason would be meeting someone, but a lack of motive doesn’t mean the theory should be dismissed.

 

[NOLandsMan]

I struggle with the theory of an opportunistic neighbor deciding to abduct Jason, particularly someone he was not on close terms with. Apparently, Jason liked to take long walks in the evening. If anyone was planning to kidnap him, that would be the time to do it. Not when he's leaving his house in broad daylight. Jason was not easy prey for a random predator. Abductions of that nature tend to involve victims who are smaller, isolated, or vulnerable. It feels statistically and practically unlikely for a spur of the moment abduction.

For me, when putting together a working hypothesis, I look at what was different that day. What was out of the ordinary? Jason never disappeared during his normal routine. He only disappeared after his plans got changed and he was called into work early. Now, maybe that was just a coincidence, but it's the one variable that changes everything. Then I look at Jason asking to be picked up at Benson High School. That's often explained as Jason being poor at giving directions, which is a possibility, but choosing a pickup spot also gives him the freedom to make a detour if needed, especially after his schedule unexpectedly changed. Obviously, I don’t know why Jason would be meeting someone, but a lack of motive doesn’t mean the theory should be dismissed.

I don't have a source off hand, but I'm pretty sure I remember hearing/reading that Fazzoli's would frequently call him in for extra shifts when someone called out or they got unexpectedly busy. So not sure the sudden change in schedule was actually an abnormality for him.

 

[NOLandsMan]

My working theory is a nearby neighbor, within close proximity to his own home but out of sight/earshot of it, offered him a ride and things went south. It's possible the encounter started out without nefarious or ill-intentions, but escalated, ending with Jason's disappearance. I think it would have been an older man, familiar with Jason, either retired or with a flexible work schedule. Someone on the periphery--not well known to Jason or his family, but known enough to that Jason would have trusted him upon a closer encounter and accepted a ride, if offered, then be able to slip under the radar. There are a couple of houses close by where he could have been approached without too many people witnessing it due to landscaping and the angle.

To me, this is the simplest explanation compared to clandestine meetings or an unknown lover. From the outside looking in, it appeared random, but this neighbor could have been watching (even listening) to the Jolkowskis for years, saw an opportunity, and made a move.

I essentially agree with this, except I lean toward thinking no car was involved. Someone who lived along the route and found a way to lure him inside (I've always been attracted to the idea of neighbor asking for help with garbage cans, because we already know Jason did that at his own house that day - but there are plenty of possibilities for how this would play out).