NE NE - Jason Jolkowski, 19, Omaha, 13 June 2001 - #1

[czechmate7]

The "carpool" statement was something media messed up on in the beginning and never really corrected. I would not refer to getting a one-time ride to work as a "carpool".

LE doesn't have to share their information. If parents want the case files opened to them, that would involve a lengthy and costly court proceeding which is generally not successful and that we could never afford. Even if a person could afford to do this, and did succeed, it would be difficult for a family to use the information without emotion. In certain situations, this could cause more problems than it might solve, and even cause harm if things get carried away and the family is dealing with less than scrupulous persons. If the family trusts that LE is taking action, they should leave it in their hands.

We decided that we trust the LE are doing what they can at this point. We have a different detective on the case, and he has checked into the SO issue. We did have a pro-bono PI at one time, but there was nothing more he could check out. We cannot afford a PI either. Most can't.

Kelly,
Do you know why LE wouldn't share their info? Do you think it means something?? It just doesn't make sense to me that they withhold info from the family!!

 

[Kelly]

Thank you concernedperson. You're very kind.

I should expand upon the LE sharing statement. LE does share info with us. They do not share all of the info with us. In reality, they are not required to tell us anything. Some LE don't cooperate with the family in this manner at all. Our does. We feel that they tell us what is appropriate for us to know once they have checked out any leads. We probably know alot more than some families. We know who was questioned in the beginning and how many times and LE's opinion about them, etc.

Since it is standard procedure not to divulge all the info, it doesn't mean anything at all if they don't tell us everything.

 

[czechmate7]

Thanks Kelly....
Always praying for Jason and your family!!

 

[Jeana (DP)]

Love and prayers to you and Jason, Kelly.

 

[arielilane]

Dear Kelly,

Your story has always been an interest to me. First, I am so sorry that you and your family are going through this and no family should ever have to. You are amazingly strong.

I have not read everything on this thread and I apologize if this has already been talked about.

I have wondered if all the neighbors (not just persons associated with your son) within a 2-5 mile ratio have been checked out? Have all persons who have moved from the neighborhood since your son went missing been questioned? What are they doing now and where are they living. Why did they move?

I just finished a book written by Sherri Gladden & Brad Crawford called My Sister Is Missing. Sherri Gladden's sister Fran went missing and Sherri and Fran's daughter did most of the investigating since the police were too busy and had other commitments. It is a good read and amazing how things turned out.

My best regards to you and your family.

 

[Peabody]

Dear Kelly and Family,

Think of you often, but especially today with the news of the Missouri boys being found.

I continue to pray for your family and Maura Murray's family; God willing, your families will experience the wonderful reunion that others enjoyed today.

 

[mattsmom]

Originally Posted by: Peabody
Think of you often, but especially today with the news of the Missouri boys being found....

Kelly - I'm sure the MO news is bittersweet and hope you know how many of us just want to give you a cyber hug today.

 

[englishleigh]

Thinking of you and your family, Kelly...may you please, God, get a miracle like this!!
It gives me so much hope that Jason is alive out there and will return to you all soon!
BIG HUGS!

 

[JanetElaine]

Kelly,

The first thing on my mind after hearing about Ben and Shawn being found safe was that I wish this will be you and your family. I know this may sound weird coming from a total stranger who doesn't know you or Jason, but I so bad want him to come home. I pray for you guys a lot.

{{{{{{{{hugs}}}}}}}}}

I also have a question for you - are there any plans for bumper stickers or those car 'clingies' or magnets to be made for the 'adoptable' missing persons?

Sincerely,
JanetElaine

 

[Sundayrain]

I know we all thought about Jason and other missing ones........
Maybe the local LE will all pull out their files of missing children, and
relook, research, restomp and rewind........to find more of the lost children.
This finding has to bring up the hope......
The stories are all too heartbreaking......
May God be with us to find more miracles and answer our prayers.
Thinking of you Kelly........Sunday

 

[concernedperson]

I know we all thought about Jason and other missing ones........
Maybe the local LE will all pull out their files of missing children, and
relook, research, restomp and rewind........to find more of the lost children.
This finding has to bring up the hope......
The stories are all too heartbreaking......
May God be with us to find more miracles and answer our prayers.
Thinking of you Kelly........Sunday

Beautiful post. Kelly, your heart is with us and our prayers continue.

 

[Kelly]

Wow...I am so blessed to have all of you remembering Jason and our family.

Sometimes these events are bittersweet, yes. Usually though, if I have that feeling, it's only fleeting. This time, I did not have that feeling at all. My overwhelming concern with this story is Shawn's mental health and well being. I also hope that Ben did not have to endure any violation by that man.

We don't have any plans to add any awareness pieces to the Adopt program at this time. Those are very good ideas, but there is no budget for it.

With Hope, Always,
Kelly

 

[Tranaice]

I, too, thought of Jason and you and your family when I heard this news Kelly. I continue to hold all of you in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Kelly]

Thanks, tranaice.

http://www.ketv.com/family/10754128/detail.html

Missouri Boys' Discovery Fuels Hope For Omaha Mother
Kelly Jolkowski Watches Boys' Reunion With Interest

POSTED: 3:36 pm CST January 15, 2007
UPDATED: 5:16 pm CST January 15, 2007

OMAHA, Neb. -- A local mother said Monday that the discovery of two boys in Missouri gives her hope that she'll find her own son.

Jason Jolkowski disappeared more than five years ago at age 19. His mother, Kelly, has been tracking the case of Shawn Hornbeck in Missouri for years.

On Friday, police found Hornbeck and Ben Ownby, 13, another missing boy, in the home of 41-year-old Michael Devlin. Shawn was 11 when he disappeared in 2002.


Devlin has been arrested and jailed on $1 million bond. He was awaiting arraignment on one charge of kidnapping but more charges are likely, authorities said.

"I was shocked. I thought it sounded too good to be true," Kelly Jolkowski said on Monday. "I did think that Shawn was most likely dead because of his age, and it sounded like he was abducted, and it had been so long."

Jolkowski monitors hundreds of missing persons cases through ProjectJason, the organization she founded that helps families of the missing.

"You can't help but picture the possibility of your own reunion in your mind, too," Jolkowski said.

Despite hefty reward offers and all of her resources, Jolkowski and police still don't have a clue in Jason's disappearance.

"It just seems to be the most clueless case I know of. A lot of cases they have some indication of this happened versus that happened. But we have no indication whatsoever," she said.

Jolkowski counsels people to be aware of their surroundings.

"Look at the faces of the missing. You never know if you might see them somewhere," she said. "When we hear about these stories we know that just because they've been missing for awhile, even though most people think the odds are against them, we still have hope."

Project Jason helps families of the missing all over the United States, but Jolkowski said that despite the number of missing people in the Omaha area, she rarely gets calls from families in Omaha.

 

[Kelly]

Family is what Project Jason is all about. We want to assist families of the missing and provide them with the hope and resources that they need in their time of need. In order to continue to do this, we need your help. Your contribution to Project Jason will allow us to potentially reunite families torn apart by this tragic circumstance. It will also be used to bring about public awareness for the missing and provide educational opportunities in our community. Project Jason receives no government grants or funds and does not charge for services. We rely entirely upon corporate donations and gifts from individuals like you. Please be generous!


You may send donations to:

Project Jason
P.O. Box 3035
Omaha, NE 68103

Another way you can help us fulfill our mission statement is by placing a Pampered Chef order through this site. (link below) Project Jason will receive 10% of the profit for each order you place.

http://www.pamperedchef.biz/mikechamp?page=home

IRS 501 (C) (3) Non Profit Charitable Organization - EIN# 20-0256753

Many blessings,
Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

 

[Kelly]

Bumping for Jason....never forgotten, loved by so many.

 

[Kelly]

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/NEWS02/702040545

Push is on to improve search for missing.
Madison woman's case prompts action


February 4, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS -- The cousin of a missing Madison woman is working with state lawmakers to establish new procedures for police to follow when adults are reported missing.

Bills introduced in the House and Senate also would require police to collect DNA evidence for people who are missing as well as from unidentified bodies and put them in the same national database so matches can be found more quickly.


"It's going to save time and save money if things are done right in the beginning," said Keri Dattilo, whose cousin Molly Dattilo of Madison disappeared more than two years ago.

Molly Dattilo was in Indianapolis attending summer classes when she vanished. She has not been located.

"This legislation helps law enforcement prioritize cases," Keri Dattilo said. "My family and I just don't want to have any other families go through the experience we went through. We want to see some changes."

Molly Dattilo's brother reported her missing two days after she disappeared. But although police took a report, her cousin said, they did not seem to consider the situation serious for several weeks.

According to the Dattilo family, Molly did not take her money, car or other belongings. Keri Dattilo said that kind of situation should prompt a more intense investigation.

Last month, Scott Robinett, the deputy chief of investigations for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, said the Dattilo investigation continues as a "missing persons case" but not necessarily a criminal one.

House Bill 1306 and Senate Bill 464 establish criteria for police to determine whether an adult is a "high risk missing person" and then sets out procedures for dealing with those cases.

It also requires police to provide family with contact information for missing-persons organizations and to collect DNA evidence for anyone missing more than 30 days.

The bills are based on model legislation prepared by the U.S. Justice Department and pushed by groups that serve as advocates for families of missing people.

The House bill, written by Rep. Dave Cheatham, D-North Vernon, is tentatively scheduled to be heard in the House Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee on Feb. 15. Dattilo plans to come to Indianapolis to testify.

The state police already have raised questions about implementing some of the procedures outlined in the bill and are working with Cheatham on amendments. He said those will be introduced at the February hearing.

"This is model legislation, so there are always going to be changes to make it work for a specific state," Cheatham said. "I think we can work it out."

The Senate bill, written by Sen. Connie Sipes, D-New Albany, has not been scheduled for a hearing.

Capt. Sherry Beck, the legislative liaison for the state police, said the department doesn't oppose the ideas in the bills. But they might go too far.

"The way the current bill is written, if a man with a green hat was standing on the corner and somebody noticed he was there a few days and then he's not, they could walk into the police department and say the man was missing and the police would have to do a report," Beck said. "He may not be missing, but we would have to assign resources to it."

Police often receive calls about people who haven't shown up for work and are feared missing or about people who are trying to escape an abusive spouse and don't want to be found. As written, bills don't account for those situations, Beck said.

"Currently what we do is ask enough specific questions and find out whether there is an issue," she said.

The model legislation suggested by the Justice Department has been adopted in some form in Washington, Colorado and the District of Columbia, said Kelly Jolkowski, founder and president of Nebraska-based Project Jason, a group that helps families. But she expects all states will make some changes.

She's recruiting volunteers, including Keri Dattilo, to try to get the legislation passed across the country. Dattilo also is working to get the bill passed in California, where she lives.

Volunteers also are active in Oregon, Connecticut, Ohio, Tennessee, Florida and Missouri. Jolkowski said she doesn't have a volunteer working in Kentucky, although she said she's always looking for help.

"So many missing persons are lost in the system because the right steps aren't taken," Jolkowski said "These procedures will hopefully resolve cases quicker."

More than five* years ago, Jolkowski's son Jason, then 19, disappeared from their home. He was last seen dragging trashcans up the driveway from the curb. He has not been found.

Jolkowski said a key of the proposed legislation is the DNA procedures, which would allow law enforcement with a missing person in one jurisdiction to link the case to an unidentified body in another place.

Currently, she said, many states allow unidentified bodies to be buried or cremated without ever obtaining DNA that could be used to identify them later. The bills would prevent unidentified bodies from being cremated.

"This is about connecting the dots," Jolkowski said. "There's an average of about 105,000 open missing-persons cases at any one time, and there's an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 unidentified remains. Who knows how many other bodies out there have been buried or cremated without identification, with families somewhere without knowledge of what happened."

* Corrected from original text, which said six years.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

 

[JanetElaine]

Thank you, Kelly, for keeping us all updated on things like this. I hope the legislation passes! I cannot believe that they wouldn't take DNA from unidentified bodies, and worse, that they actually cremate them. Unbelievable.

 

[JanetElaine]

Bumping for Jason.

 

[JanetElaine]

Bump.