NE RYAN LARSEN: Missing from La Vista, NE - 17 May 2021 - Age 11

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Endangered Missing Advisory issued for Omaha boy​

The Nebraska State Patrol has issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for a boy with autism missing from La Vista, near Omaha.

According to a release, Ryan Larsen, 11, was last seen leaving school Monday at La West Elementary.


‘Ultimate game of hide-and-seek,’ search for missing La Vista child continues​

The Nebraska State Patrol issues an Endangered Missing Advisory for a La Vista boy.

Ryan Larsen was last known to be in the area of 78th Street and Terry Drive in La Vista around 12:00 pm on Monday.

Authorities say Ryan has autism, is an 11-year-old white male, 5′ 8″, about 125 lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes. Ryan was wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, an Old Navy shirt, and had a polka-dotted umbrella.


“We have no reason to suspect anything other than he walked away,” commented a spokesperson for the La Vista Police Department. “Right now we are just looking for a little boy who is playing the ultimate game of hide-and-seek.”

The official explained that La Vista police has dealt with Larsen before.

“He does like to hide he does like to get away, he likes to hide in small places.”

Larsen is a high-functioning child on the autism spectrum, who police say is non-verbal with anyone he is uncomfortable around. They believe he was in between classes when he slipped away from the school.

 
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Authorities to lower water level at Walnut Creek in search for Ryan Larsen​

It's been nearly a week since anyone saw 11-year-old Ryan Larsen, a missing La Vista boy with autism.

Dozens of law enforcement agencies and the community have been searching extensively for Larsen. Now, authorities will lower the water level at Walnut Creek Recreation Area to help in the search.

Law enforcement is taking the day off from their intense ground search. Instead, they’re regrouping and focusing on investigative efforts in the week ahead.

"These cases are incredibly difficult to respond to from the law enforcement perspective, not only is this a challenge to find this little person but there's also the emotional toll,” said Gene Klein, executive director of Project Harmony.


Sunday, the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District announced it would lower the Walnut Creek water levels by a few feet to help authorities search the vegetation-filled area.

A police K9 picked up a scent at Walnut Creek Recreation Area, but it is too early to determine if the scent is animal, human, or something else, officials said.
 



Ryan Larsen search updates: La Vista Police to give update Monday afternoon​

The lake that has become the focus of a multi-agency search for 11-year-old Ryan Larsen, missing since last Monday, was in the process of being lowered to aid in those efforts.

A La Vista Police Department spokesperson said that Chief Bob Lausten would give an update on the search at 4 p.m. Monday. Watch the livestream in this article, in our apps, and on our Facebook page.

Officials said Sunday night the Papio-Missouri Natural Resources District had begun lowering the lake at 7 p.m. Saturday. The process is expected to be finished at 7 p.m. Monday.


 
Over a week missing now. Seeing the terrain of where they think he is/was, makes me very worried. There's still some time for him to be found safe, but I can't imagine the worry his family feels.

 
Search dogs signaled three times for missing boy near Walnut Creek

The search for a missing 11-year-old-boy with autism went into its eighth day Monday with crews searching Walnut Creek again.

La Vista Chief of Police, Bob Lausten, said multiple search dogs have signaled Ryan's scent around a specific area. They had three hits, one Friday, again on Sunday, and one more on Monday.

Officers are asking people who are familiar with the trails in the area to keep an eye out as they're walking.
 
I have a bit of hope in this one because they say he is high functioning and he is the one they say searched for "how to hide from cops". They also say he has a history of running away and hiding which means in prior times, he has been found safe which I hope means he would not go in the water.

However, with the scent near the water and the looks of that water, and the length of time he has been gone, there is plenty of reason to fear he did go in the water.
 

Law enforcement pull back on water search at Walnut Creek for Ryan Larsen​

On Tuesday afternoon, families were out biking and running along the trail at the Walnut Creek Rec Area.

Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Matt Sutter said there is no reason to keep it closed.

"We believe if there was anything here that we needed to secure and treat as evidence, we would have already located [it]," said Sutter.


La Vista police focusing on surveillance video in hunt for 11-year-old​

Authorities looking for a missing 11-year-old boy have suspended their search of Walnut Creek Recreation Area and instead will focus on the hours of surveillance video that they’ve been combing through.

La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten said the department has exhausted its leads at the sprawling recreation area, including the northeast end of the lake where multiple search dogs over several days made a “hit.” Lausten said the lowering of the reservoir by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District was helpful in searching the lake. Searchers will return to the lake if circumstances merit doing so, he said.

The lake is almost 6 miles from where Ryan was last seen and would have required that the boy walk almost two hours through town.

Despite surveillance video being commonplace at many homes and businesses, only one image of Ryan has surfaced so far. About an hour and a half after Ryan left school, an image believed to be him was captured by La Vista Keno, which is across the street from the apartments where he lived. Shortly thereafter, Lausten said, an eyewitness said they saw Ryan “right outside” his apartment.

Over the weekend, La Vista police went door to door along 72nd, 84th, 96th and Harrison Streets obtaining and making copies of surveillance video, Lausten said. They are getting help from other law enforcement agencies in watching it, he said.

Lausten has also asked homeowners and businesses to check their surveillance video for signs of Ryan. His school, the keno center and his apartments are all near 84th and Harrison Streets.

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Law enforcement pull back on water search at Walnut Creek for Ryan Larsen​

On Tuesday afternoon, families were out biking and running along the trail at the Walnut Creek Rec Area.

Nebraska State Patrol Capt. Matt Sutter said there is no reason to keep it closed.

"We believe if there was anything here that we needed to secure and treat as evidence, we would have already located [it]," said Sutter.


La Vista police focusing on surveillance video in hunt for 11-year-old​

Authorities looking for a missing 11-year-old boy have suspended their search of Walnut Creek Recreation Area and instead will focus on the hours of surveillance video that they’ve been combing through.

La Vista Police Chief Bob Lausten said the department has exhausted its leads at the sprawling recreation area, including the northeast end of the lake where multiple search dogs over several days made a “hit.” Lausten said the lowering of the reservoir by the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District was helpful in searching the lake. Searchers will return to the lake if circumstances merit doing so, he said.

The lake is almost 6 miles from where Ryan was last seen and would have required that the boy walk almost two hours through town.

Despite surveillance video being commonplace at many homes and businesses, only one image of Ryan has surfaced so far. About an hour and a half after Ryan left school, an image believed to be him was captured by La Vista Keno, which is across the street from the apartments where he lived. Shortly thereafter, Lausten said, an eyewitness said they saw Ryan “right outside” his apartment.

Over the weekend, La Vista police went door to door along 72nd, 84th, 96th and Harrison Streets obtaining and making copies of surveillance video, Lausten said. They are getting help from other law enforcement agencies in watching it, he said.

Lausten has also asked homeowners and businesses to check their surveillance video for signs of Ryan. His school, the keno center and his apartments are all near 84th and Harrison Streets.

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Well clearly there is something missing here we don't know. They spent days on this rec area 6 miles from his school/home area, almost seven from what I mapped, and it says he would have had to walk and yet the claim no surveillance video over six miles? And now they are leaving the area they spent days on miles away and are going back to reviewing surveillance video of which they say they have almost none? Maybe I am tired but it makes no sense to me at all.
 
I do wonder what led them to that area, being that the only sightings were very near his school and home. Apparently they did find his scent there, but I swear I read earlier reports that the dogs had found "a scent" but couldn't confirm it was him? And he'd been there before (not sure how recently).
I would hope that they were reviewing the footage throughout the entire week+ that he's been gone, and not just now. But it sounds like they're still working through it. Certainly if he actually did walk 6 miles across town someone or some video would have seen him.
 

Search continues Thursday for 11-year-old Ryan Larsen​

The close-knit community of La Vista gathered to show support Wednesday night for 11-year-old Ryan Larsen and his safe return.


Police said La Vista Keno captured an image last Monday of what is believed to be Larsen.

We went to the area of 84th and Harrison and spoke to surrounding businesses about their surveillance footage.

Some businesses do have cameras while others don't.

Those businesses that do have cameras, CVS and Access Banks, looked through footage and handed it over to police, but did not see Larsen.

Police continue to ask any businesses and residents, particularly along Harrison between 72nd and 96th to check security camera footage and notify police if you see any sign of Larsen.
 
La Vista Police give status update on Ryan Larsen disappearance

At this point in the search for Ryan, we continue to analyze surveillance video provided to investigators. FBI experts here and in Quantico, Virginia are assisting us in this with their technology to further enhance video for additional review. These are not available for public release, and we are not providing additional comment on the nature of those videos; these are part of our investigation.

The last confirmed sightings of Ryan Larsen were Monday, May 17; we believe Ryan is captured on a surveillance video from La Vista Keno, and a resident in the Southfield Apartments witnessed him in that area soon after. While we are grateful for the countless tips and sighting reports we have received from the community, no other sightings have been confirmed to have been Ryan Larsen.

As indicated Monday, extensive searches at the Walnut Creek Recreation Center did not lead to Ryan. We have shifted our focus away from physical searches in that area at this time, but may return to that area if additional information leads us to do so.



Investigators won't release surveillance footage of Ryan Larsen, ask public to respect family's privacy​

Officials said FBI experts in Omaha and in Quantico, Virginia, are analyzing surveillance video and working to enhance it.

"These are not available for public release, and we are not providing additional comment on the nature of those videos; these are part of our investigation," the release states.

"We ask all to continue to respect the privacy of Ryan’s family and loved ones. We are updating them frequently on our search for Ryan, and they are understandably fearful and concerned. Please be understanding of their decision regarding public comments or lack thereof," the release states.

La Vista police will provide an update Friday at 4 p.m.
 

La Vista police to provide update in search for Ryan Larsen Friday afternoon​

La Vista police are expected to provide another update in the search for Ryan Larsen on Friday afternoon.

The presser is expected to begin at 4 p.m. KETV will stream the update above.
 
Am I the only one who thinks this case has an odd vibe or something? What is the risk of putting up a video or still shot from surveillance of this child, how he was dressed, where he was, etc.? This is a missing child right and not a suspected crime? Is someone with him or something?

I just pray he is found safe although the length of time makes that pretty unlikely, and perhaps there are reasons I am not realizing for searching so far away and not sharing any pics, etc.
 
On Friday, La Vista police Chief Bob Lausten provided more information in the search for 11-year-old Ryan Larsen.

Lausten said dive teams were out at Walnut Creek lake Thursday, but not because of any new leads. He said crews wanted to give the lake water time to settle and see if anything shifted.

He said La Vista police are examining the case of a missing 12-year-old autistic boy from Hammond, Indiana. Kyrin Carter’s body was found after he was missing for more than a week.

Lausten said investigators are sharing notes comparing the cases to see if there is anything in that case that could help them find Larsen. He noted bodies in the water usually surface after three or four days but the boy in Hammond was found later. He said the water temperature, only 65 degrees, kept the body under longer.

Lausten said the water temperature in Walnut Creek Lake is 65 degrees as well.

He said there’s an underwater drone-type device that investigators in Hammond told them about and they may try to use that.

Officials are asking people out this holiday weekend to be observant of anything unusual. Lausten said people should call police if they see or smell anything unusual, especially in wooded areas.

However, Lausten asked that people refrain from calling in tips that they got “from their friend on Facebook,” or from a “psychic from Detroit.”

“We’ve come across a lot of tips. A lot of people are out there giving us information. Some of it’s good, but honestly if you heard it from a friend who saw it on Facebook… we are getting a lot of stuff that’s really taking us in some wild directions, we really need to narrow it back,” he said.
 

Ryan Larsen search: Six fire departments joined La Vista Police near Walnut Creek​

Six fire departments in the Omaha metro area have joined the La Vista Police in the continued search of 11-year-old Ryan Larsen.

Volunteer firefighters and divers from Ashland, Bennington, Council Bluffs, Plattsmouth, Waterloo, and Yutan were seen near Walnut Creek today.


 

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