Jonathan Francis Lacina

Jonathan F. Lacina
Age at Report: 21
Weight: 155 lbs.
Height: 5'11"
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green
Incident Type: Other adult missing
Went Missing: January 22, 2010
Body Discovered: April 14, 2010

Case summary compiled by Jody Ewing

UPDATE: Jonathan's body was found at approximately 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 14, in an isolated room at the Dairy Pavilion south of the ISU campus.

 

Officials Confirm: Missing ISU Student Jonathan Lacina found dead

AMES — The Iowa State Medical Examiner confirmed today (April 15) that the man found dead Wednesday night inside the boiler room at an Iowa State University dairy farm was Jonathan Lacina, a senior majoring in graphic design who had been missing since January 22. After nearly three months, an ISU police officer found the body at the Dairy Pavilion south of campus while searching the brick building at around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. The site is approximately one mile south of Central Campus, and the property had previously been searched in January. ISU officials said the manner and cause of death have yet to be determined, and that the investigation into the 21-year-old student's death will rely heavily upon results and analysis of medical tests and the autopsy. Jon Lacina was last seen playing video games at a small gathering with friends at a 300 Stanton Ave. apartment complex on Friday, Jan. 22. Lacina left the apartment around 9:30 p.m. after telling his friends he was going home. A few short blocks separated Lacina's Buchanan Hall dorm and the apartment complex, but he never made it. We at Iowa Cold Cases offer our heartfelt condolences to Jon's parents, Tom and Alesia, and their elder son, Joe. Like many others across Iowa and the nation, we'd so hoped for a different ending to Jon's story. Cards and messages of support may be sent to Jon's family at the following address: Jon Lacina Family c/o CO&L P.O. Box 655 Grinnell, IA 50112

Jonathan Lacina, 21, was reported missing to the Iowa State University Police at 8:39 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30, by his father, Tom.

Jon -- a senior majoring in graphic design from Grinnell -- was last seen at a small gathering with friends at a 300 Stanton Ave. apartment complex at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Jan. 22.

Lacina left the apartment at 9:30 and told his friends he was going home. The apartment complex and Lacina's dorm at Buchanan Hall are separated by only a few blocks.

Neither friends nor family have seen or heard from him since.

Dive teams searched Lake Luverne in the investigation's early days, and police have also considered the possibility Lacina might be buried under snow.

Police also looked into the possibility Lacina's case might be tied to other missing persons cases; two young men disappeared in Minnesota the same week as Lacina.

Police have searched Lacina's bank accounts, cell phone logs, and dining records. There has been no activity since the night he disappeared.

ISU Police, the Ames Police Department, the Story County Sheriff's Office, Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Story County Emergency Management and STAR 1 Search and Rescue are working together to locate Lacina. He is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches, 155 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing a black coat and blue jeans.

Lacina's parents, Tom and Alesia, have offered a reward of up to $10,000 for any new information that leads to the location of their son.

Messages of support for Tom and Alesia and their elder son, Joe, may be sent to the following address:

Jon Lacina Family
c/o CO&L
P.O. Box 655
Grinnell, IA 50112

Anyone who has had contact with, or information about Lacina since Jan. 22 should immediately call ISU Police at (515) 294-4428, or 911 from any campus phone.

Download Jon's Missing Persons Flyer

Sources and References:

Iowa State University

Jon Lacina Family Releases New Statement, KCCI Des Moines, August 3, 2010
Medical Examiner's Report Back On Jon Lacina, KCCI, July 1, 2010
Pathologist: Foul Play Not Likely In Lacina's Death, KCCI, May 13, 2010
Family, Friends Say Goodbye To Jon Lacina, KCCI, April 23, 2010
Questions Linger About Lacina's Death, KCCI, April 21, 2010
Lacina Family Talks Churning Pain, Immense Support, KCCI, April 16, 2010
Wrist Bands Raise Awareness Of Lacina Search, KCCI, April 5, 2010
Search Of Lake For Lacina Turns Up Empty, KCCI Des Moines, March 28, 2010
Search For Jon Lacina Intensifies In Ames, KCCI, March 27, 2010
Investig8: The Disappearance Of Jon Lacina, Part II, KCCi, March 4, 2010
Investig8: The Disappearance Of Jon Lacina, Part I, KCCI Des Moines, March 2, 2010
One Month Later, ISU Student Still Missing, KCCI, Feb. 23, 2010
Students Hold Nightly Vigils For Lacina, KCCI, Feb. 10, 2010
Another Day Passes In Missing Student Search, KCCI, Feb. 2, 2010
Day 10: No Sign Of Missing ISU Student, KCCI, Feb. 1, 2010

Page last updated: August 4, 2010