WI WI - James Liedtka, 28, Veteran & UW-Stout student, Eau Claire, 4 Nov 2018

[rainynights]

James Liedtka | Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults

First Name: James
Middle Initial: B
Last Name: Liedtka



Missing Since: 11/04/2018
DOB: 09/06/1990
Age Now: 29
Gender: Male
Race: Asian
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Height: 5'7"-5'9"
Weight: 160-170 lbs
Missing From: Eau Claire, Wisconsin

VIEW POSTER:
James B Liedtka.pdf

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT:
Eau Claire Police Department, 715-839-4972

James B. Liedtka went missing after separating himself from a group of friends in the early morning of November 4, 2018. He was last seen that day at 1:13am, walking eastbound on the 300-400 block of Water Street in Eau Claire. He was heading toward the bike trail. He has not been seen or heard from since. James is a student at UW-Stout.

WISCONSIN CLEARINGHOUSE FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN & ADULTS 1-800-THE-HOPE (1-800-843-4673)

 

[rainynights]

One year later, and Liedtka is still nowhere to be found. News 18 reached out to the Eau Claire Police Department for an update. Officials said there have been no new leads or tips. Authorities also want to encourage anyone who may be out searching the river banks for Liedtka, to be safe, pay attention to the weather and river’s height.


One Year Later: Search continues for missing vet, UW-Stout student James Liedtka

 

[JerseyGirl]

One year later: still no sign of missing veteran in Eau Claire

 

[kelsie]

I can't believe James is still missing. I recently moved back to Madison but Eau Claire is very near and dear to my heart and I have spent tons of time in the area James went missing. If anyone has any questions about the area feel free to ask me. My gut says he's in the river or maybe in someone's shed they haven't checked for quite some time. It's heartbreaking, and I wish James' roommate would come forward with more information. Instead, she avoids his family and news reporters (according to the Vanished podcast). :/

 

[kelsie]

bump for james!

 

[kelsie]

Bumping for James. Just messaged his aunt I'm in contact with occasionally asking her for any updates. <3

 

[ADKGemini]

James Bernard Liedtka – The Charley Project

Details of Disappearance
Liedtka was last seen walking alone on Water Street in Eau Claire, Wisconsin on November 4, 2018. He was recorded on surveillance camera at 1:13 a.m., walking east behind the Pickle Tavern towards the bike trail.

Earlier that night, he had been at Shenanigans, and then the Pioneer Bear, celebrating a friend's birthday. The bouncer had refused to let him into the Pickle Tavern because he was too drunk. He has never been heard from again.

Liedtka is an Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. At the time of his disappearance, he was studying engineering at the University of Madison, Stout in Menomonie, Wisconsin. His case remains unsolved.

 

[kelsie]

Again, I'm going to say about the Pickle, they have a reputation for bouncing people at the door for pretty much no reason. I don't put a whole lot of stock in the claim he was too drunk. He definitely could've been, but my experience with the Pickle is that their bouncers are atrocious, often racist and sexist and rude. I lived in EC for 4 (great) years.

 

[kelsie]

If you search for James on Google you can find a write-up I did about his case I won't link it here but it is easy to find!

 

[VallieGirl65]

Hey Kelsie. I wanted to let you know I have some new developments. Thanks to the Discovery ID The Missing episode we did we had a girl come forward that was in the group that night. She told me that her and Hames hung out most the night. She said he was happy, stable, was excited about school. He had really good energy. She said yes that they were drinking that night but her and James were the most sober/coherent. She said they were not drinking as heavily as everyone else, and others on the bus were also snorting coke, smoking weed, and doing pills. She said he was in no way heavily intoxicated. She felt he could definitely take care of himself and she doesn’t believe at all that he was so intoxicated that he fell in the river. She also said while her name was given to ECPD as being on the bus they never contacted her for a statement. She finally called them 3 weeks later. She wanted to go in and make a statement but they insisted she do a phone interview. I also know now there were others on the bus whose names were not given because they had warrants. The one person I looked up and he had a very sketchy lengthy history. I trust this person they have no reason to lie to me. Since we started talking she was thinking maybe she forgot what all she said in her statement. She asked ECPD if she could have a copy because she said some things she just thought about and she wasn’t sure she put it in the statement. She just wanted to check her statement. No big deal right? Wrong. She was denied a copy . She could have possibly remembered something to add to it but they weren’t allowing it to be reviewed. I’m not sure if anyone has watched the discovery I’d show but in the clip I have seen Derek Thomas from ECPD said that they saw James walk down 4th st-(it’s actually 4th Ave ) but they never saw him come out the back side by the bike trail. So whatever happened to him could very well have happened in that block between The Pioneer and The Pickle. There’s at least 6-7 cameras in that area. They also said he was heading east behind the pickle which is a contradiction to what he stated on the show. If they never saw him come out. How did they know he headed east? I haven’t seen the entire episode yet but when I do I’m seriously thinking of doing a live feed from the James page to debunk his statements. I get that they hold back some info from the family and public to keep the integrity of the investigation but shouldn’t those statements be consistent? Also, the timeline ECPD has is off. According to the person that was riding the bus, the bus was still in front of Shenanigans until at least 130a , this person took an Uber home, she showed me the screenshot at 137a , James was seen at 113a . He could have still got on the bus and at least back to his car. According to Derek however, Mai called James at 1238 and said hey we are taking off where are you. And James told her to go on without him. To me this just doesn’t jive. I do find some comfort in the fact that he was enjoying himself and in good spirits that night. That’s about all I know so far but I do have the bus company name so I want to see if I can speak with whoever drove the bus. E more than likely sat in the bus parked on Water St. He could possibly have seen something. Worth a try anyway!

 

[VallieGirl65]

James not Hames ‍

 

[VallieGirl65]

The preview episode of The Missing about James
How Did James Liedtka Vanish? | The Missing

 

[kelsie]

@VallieGirl65 thank you so much for that very informative update. I am so sorry that ECPD doesn't seem to be helping as much as they could or should (wouldn't be the first time I heard of such a thing, eye roll). I wonder if the surveillance footage was even reviewed that night. Eau Claire is my adopted home town and every single time I pass Shenan's/The Pickle I think of James, and I have searched for him myself. This just makes no sense to me. Especially given the information you just provided about when the bus left, and when Mai said she texted James saying they were leaving. The timeline is off. Nothing here makes sense. We cannot be quiet and we must demand answers and keep looking. Sending you lots of love!! I'm glad y'all are getting his name/story out through popular podcasts and everything.

 

[VallieGirl65]

I never expected to be doing this at almost 55. I never saw this happening. The old cliche that these things happen to others rings true here. I’m glad I can help my brother and his family get answers one way or another about James. My heart breaks for them. I can scarcely imagine it being one of my kids. I know I don’t know if I would have the strength to keep going. I have a voice and determination. I intend to push forward as long as I can. ECPD really needs to get motivated and find the missing members of the community and the Cleasby’s deserve answers on what happened to Toby. I want them to know I’m not going to quit. They need to get some answers for us. Derek Thomas says in the video that they are willing to do what it takes to find James. Then put up or shut up. The lip service alone is unacceptable.

 

[kelsie]

I never expected to be doing this at almost 55. I never saw this happening. The old cliche that these things happen to others rings true here. I’m glad I can help my brother and his family get answers one way or another about James. My heart breaks for them. I can scarcely imagine it being one of my kids. I know I don’t know if I would have the strength to keep going. I have a voice and determination. I intend to push forward as long as I can. ECPD really needs to get motivated and find the missing members of the community and the Cleasby’s deserve answers on what happened to Toby. I want them to know I’m not going to quit. They need to get some answers for us. Derek Thomas says in the video that they are willing to do what it takes to find James. Then put up or shut up. The lip service alone is unacceptable.

I am sending you all of my strength. Is there anything I can do personally? Could we make a petition for the ECPD to do more in James' case or something? Anything?

I agree about Toby Cleasby as well. That case is absolutely heartbreaking.

Do not quit!! You got this. You are James' voice, and you are seen, heard, and appreciated.

 

[sammyed]

Bumping for James. Any updates in search efforts?

 

[bbbd4u]

Bumping for James. Any updates in search efforts?

There unfortunately are not any new updates. His family continues to desperately search for him and help get his information out there to everyone.

 

[bbbd4u]

It's been 730 days since a veteran and UW-Stout student went missing.

His family said they continue to give his story exposure so they can finally have some closure.

"Our family has felt very defeated the last two years," said Liz Norder, cousin of James Liedtka.

Two Years Later: Veteran, UW-Stout student James Liedtka still missing

 

[Abraham12/20/68]

During my early 20's I spent a lot of time in the Water Street Eau Claire area. I have a friend that has an interesting story about being intoxicated and walking on the trail behind the Pickle by the river and pushed or pulled down the bank. Mind you he admittedly was very drunk but his story still feels interesting to me.

 

[kelsie]

During my early 20's I spent a lot of time in the Water Street Eau Claire area. I have a friend that has an interesting story about being intoxicated and walking on the trail behind the Pickle by the river and pushed or pulled down the bank. Mind you he admittedly was very drunk but his story still feels interesting to me.

Hello Abraham, I went to college in EC and lived there for a handful of years. Loved it a lot more than Madison that's for sure. Personally looked for James myself, many many times and many places.

Could you tell us more of your friend's story?