For so many — including Iowans — it is the book thousands of families have long wished someone would write. It doesn’t provide just hope, it offers clear and insightful methods for those who want to get involved in finding out what happened to a loved one who went missing long ago.
Silvia Pettem, a Colorado-based historical researcher, newspaper columnist and cold case instructor in classes sponsored by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, has just released her new book, The Long Term Missing: Hope and Help for Families, about how families can become proactive in renewing police contacts, keeping up with latest technologies, and educating themselves as they strive to become their long term missing person’s advocates. The author of more than a dozen books, including Cold Case Research Resources for Unidentified, Missing, and Cold Homicide Cases, Silvia’s latest work addresses topics such as:
Why Finding the Missing is Important
Categories of Long-Term Missing Adults
Children: Helping to Bring Them Home
NamUs: An investigative Tool
How to Gather Information, Document, and Do the Research
Pitfalls and Legalities to Avoid, and much, much more.
The Long Term Missing comes complete with illustrations and describes how cold case investigations are driven by changes in technology or changes in relationships. As the founder of Iowa Cold Cases, I am both honored and humbled to have contributed to Silvia’s new book the role Iowa has played in increasing statewide public awareness about unsolved cases and getting advocates involved. Many thanks to Silvia for her comprehensive research, thought-provoking interviews, and solid guidelines for families looking for hope, help and answers.
Please Note: This list below is ongoing and not inclusive of all Iowa missing persons cases. The individuals listed here reflect:
Persons who went missing under suspicious circumstances (regardless of the date they disappeared)
Missing persons presumed deceased but whose bodies have never been recovered
Persons with mental or physical disabilities who vanished without a trace
Missing teens and young children who are not suspected runaways
The cases are listed in chronological order. Click the names or images to visit the missing person’s case summary page, or information provided by the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse or NAMUS.
Anon, I attempted to pull up that Facebook page. It seem to show her as having some connection to Scripos Memorial Hospital. However she seems to list Waterloo. Iowa as her home town.
I assume this is the one that is posting to her page. However, there is very little detail on her disappearance. I was looking for something that suggested she worked in the medical field, especially with the reference to a hospital in the Dan Diego metro area.
Do you any further details on her background. I get frustrated that with the limited details on many missing persons cases. In this day and age there should be more details that law enforcement should develop and provide to us who like to help find them.
Also, I don’t have access to Facebook. I had a page on there many years ago, but stopped off. Too many strangers wanted to be friends, but no enemies.
Jody, that was nice of her to runaway again. Maybe the authorities should have handed her a statement of the costs of searching for her. Plus, a booklet listing all the runaways who were murdered. Plus the unidentified bodies around the country.
But, then she has more important stuff to do. But not at home.
The Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse (MPIC) is usually the first to delete a report once the individual has been located. As of today, they still show Chantal Steeg as missing.
For the longest time, Facebook also showed Cari Farver as alive and posting. We now know Shanna Golyar impersonated Cari on Facebook after she killed her. The posts on Chantal’s page (primarily new profile pictures, one after the other, with an occasional link to an offsite article) strike a familiar chord.
As long as MPIC lists Chantal Steeg as still missing (and physically endangered at that), she remains on our Missing Persons page.
When I see a child missing with no pictures, no information as to details where they went missing. Just their name, location date they went missing i don’t understand why there is no picture, no information. How do they expect the public to help. Very disturbing to say the least.
Theresa, I’ve often asked myself that same question, but the info put out on many missing persons cases can be quite limited. For example, right now, there are 331 individuals listed as missing on the IDPS’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse site. Of the 331 missing, 65 have a photo.
My understanding is that the investigating agency will provide a photo to MPIC “if” the one filing the missing person report provides a picture of the individual to LE officials at the time they file the MP report.
Missing persons photos may be emailed to mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us, but the photo or photos will have to be verified by the appropriate jurisdiction.
Anon, Brian Nissen’s case was removed from both the IDPS’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse site, and his case also removed from NamUs, which means for whatever reason, they no longer consider him missing. I cull through our Missing page frequently, and when I see they’ve been removed from the other two sites (some don’t even make it to NamUs), then I remove them from ICC’s “Missing” page. A lot of our missing people don’t have personal case summary pages because there’s so little info about them online. The MPIC staff with the state are adding and deleting names from their database every day.
I contacted the police about someone that I believe to be missing and they only called the person. I believe she is being held against her will and the people holding her has her phone what should I do now
Scenny Tate and Omon Watson have long-standing fostercare cases. There has been a lot of activity in both cases since they were reported missing. Looks like Scenny Tate’s mom is Scenny Pleas and dad’s name is Tyrone Tate and that Omon Watson’s mom is Scenny Pleas and Cyris Watson is Omon Watson’s dad. In May of 2018, both Scenny Tate and Omon Watson were “PLACED IN TEMPORARY CARE & CUSTODY OF TAKIYRAH DYE PENDING FURTHER ORDER OF THE COURT.”
Why were so many without picture’s? The public needs to know what they look like in order to be found. I never knew there were so many people in Iowa that are missing. I pray that they are all ok and safe.
The state (and the police) gave you incorrect information about Jesse Giovanni Nimaja Pol. His name isn’t “Nimajapol” it is “Nimaja Pol.” Also, there are some internet postings from someone named “Adexe Nauzet Giovanni Nimaja Pol” from Denison, Iowa. Was his real name Jesse?
Kathleen, the names that are highlighted have individual pages on the Iowa Cold Cases website. At the top of the page, it tells readers to simply click on the black and white image for the other names, which takes one to the missing persons page on the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Missing Person Clearinghouse page. These are still cases where we have very little information, so until we gather that info, we link directly to the MPIC site. I apologize for the confusion.
The Iowa Courts Online website says that Phillip Bizzell’s full name is Phillip Terry Bizzell, with a DOB of 08/29/1960. Various online records show him as having an address, or having had an address, in the state of Oregon.
If all of these missing people were some how connected the person responsible would be 62 years old. If you closely look at the year or location in which the person went missing the years aren’t too far apart, some being very close together. That also includes locations though. Most of these locations are only a couple hours apart but are still in a general area. The ones that seem to be more than two hours apart from each other tend to go missing a couple months apart. I think there’s a pattern involved but I also think it was the same person responsible for all of these people. It’s possible except for the case of 1930. Also if most of these cases involved a person being seen in a car, and then never again it’s also quite possible the person is still out there.
Anonymous, thanks for the info on Lexus Wright. It does appear to be the same person, but until law enforcement officials notify the MPIC and ask that she be removed, I’ll probably keep her listed. There are several others listed here that actually Facebook accounts, but there’s no solid proof that the person posting is the actual owner of the account. (i.e. No selfies, etc.) Hopefully the MPIC will look into this. Thanks for passing along the info!
My prayers goes out to all the families, friends and to those who are missing. I can’t imagine what or how you feel. The best I can do is to pray that all who are missing be found and for those who are left with that empty place in yours hearts be healed. God bless.
Andrea, it may (or may not) be the same Jennifer Tweedt, but we still show her name on our Missing Persons page b/c she’s still listed as missing on the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety’s MPIC site. http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic/Controller.aspx?cmd=personDetailCommand&id=27500
Says she was reported missing to the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office in Osage on Feb. 3, 2012. The Jennifer T. on FB is in Waterloo (just a few counties away), but either she or the reporting person needs to contact the Mitchell County sheriff (641-732-4740) to verify she’s been safely located.
Thank you for the heads up! Just last night I removed Alfredo Rodriguez from the MP page, though haven’t yet switched his status over to an unsolved homicide b/c officials haven’t yet publicly released a cause or manner of death.
Jenni, I agree with your comment. However, it costs money to do these searches. Also, there are two couples who have small boats that can do this.
As a former submarine sailor, I am familiar with other tools the military has used to find submarines, that might more useful, and possibly quicker.
I have been keeping track of stories of where vehicles have been found containing the remains of people missing. In one case law enforcement divers recovered two vehicles missing for almost 40 years on a dive to try out some new equipment.
Jenni, I assume you have heard of the dive group Adventures with Purpose. They have cleared about 24 missing persons cases. They seem in a one case to have done what law enforcement failed to do.
There was a recent case from the Philadelphia area, of a man, who disappeared a number of years ago. He worked the midnight shift for UPS, and was a diabetic.
He over slept and was running late to pick up the kids from the babysitter, and disappeared. I came across his case about 40 or five months ago. I looked at my AAA Road Atlas, and figured he ended up in a specific body of water.
Well, that’s where they found him and his pickup truck. It was interesting that there had been some improvements made to a pier of whatever. So, the divers found a pylon that was driven through the engine compartment of the truck. If the contractors had done a underwater survey, they would have found the truck a few years ago,
Patrick yes AWP actually found Ethan Kazmerak who was missing from Hampton Iowa, but if you watch them I assume you know already wish more people would do what they do
The case of missing Marion resident, James Booher, is now being treated as a homicide, despite not finding his body yet. Links to CR Gazette articles about the case:
Since his body has not yet been found, I kept him listed here on the MP page but also added him to the Homicides page for the 2000-present cases. I sure hope his family is able to find answers soon.
We encourage thoughtful discussion here but ask that comments remain civilized and constructive … i.e. without personal attacks or name-calling. Be respectful of others and remember that victims' family members visit these pages, too. If you'd like to provide us with information regarding a suspect or have other sensitive details to relay, please email us directly. Thank you in advance.
The Missing Persons Cases
Guy Heckle
Jane Ellen Wakefield
Naomi Wilson
Sandra Vanderhoef
Johnny Joe Shields
Ricardo J. Pimentel
Paul Joseph Knockel
Matthew John Ferris
Aaron M. Pate, 17
Bernadene Sealine
John Johnson
John S. Conaway
Crystal Sue Hunt, 21
Dennison Stookesberry
Dennis Addlesberger
Elizabeth N. Syperda
Melissa Dawn Hasley
Christopher Stewart
William Douglas, Sr.
Kevin Lee Griebel
Linn A. Snyder
Jesse J. Leopold
Rachel Anne Reuter died. https://www.channel3000.com/obituaries/rachel-anne-reuter/article_30a8e221-b28e-56bb-82c3-effe0b13f8ab.html
This looks like Sharla Mcahren. There is only one Sharla Mcahren in the state of Iowa according to data aggregators so she appears to be alive and posting on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093400122307&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Anon, I attempted to pull up that Facebook page. It seem to show her as having some connection to Scripos Memorial Hospital. However she seems to list Waterloo. Iowa as her home town.
I assume this is the one that is posting to her page. However, there is very little detail on her disappearance. I was looking for something that suggested she worked in the medical field, especially with the reference to a hospital in the Dan Diego metro area.
Do you any further details on her background. I get frustrated that with the limited details on many missing persons cases. In this day and age there should be more details that law enforcement should develop and provide to us who like to help find them.
Also, I don’t have access to Facebook. I had a page on there many years ago, but stopped off. Too many strangers wanted to be friends, but no enemies.
I think this is the missing Sharla Mcahren on fb: https://m.facebook.com/sharla.mcahren.7/
https://www.iowastatedaily.com/news/politics_and_administration/city/update-missing-ames-teenager-found/article_cb11a336-10b5-11e6-8162-e38162c8c1d3.html
It appears Jade Colvin was found back in 2016. Needs updated!
Abby, that story was updated May 4, 2016 (two days after Jade Colvin went missing). She went missing again June 10, 2016, as reported by the Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse and NamUs.
Jody, that was nice of her to runaway again. Maybe the authorities should have handed her a statement of the costs of searching for her. Plus, a booklet listing all the runaways who were murdered. Plus the unidentified bodies around the country.
But, then she has more important stuff to do. But not at home.
I’d start by looking for the description of these cars at junk yards.. they have some old cars piled up from years ago..
It appears that Chantal Steeg has been active on facebook since the missing persons report was made. https://www.facebook.com/chantal.steeg.7
An online directory shows her supposedly living in South Sioux City. Nebraska.
The Iowa Missing Person Information Clearinghouse (MPIC) is usually the first to delete a report once the individual has been located. As of today, they still show Chantal Steeg as missing.
For the longest time, Facebook also showed Cari Farver as alive and posting. We now know Shanna Golyar impersonated Cari on Facebook after she killed her. The posts on Chantal’s page (primarily new profile pictures, one after the other, with an occasional link to an offsite article) strike a familiar chord.
As long as MPIC lists Chantal Steeg as still missing (and physically endangered at that), she remains on our Missing Persons page.
When I see a child missing with no pictures, no information as to details where they went missing. Just their name, location date they went missing i don’t understand why there is no picture, no information. How do they expect the public to help. Very disturbing to say the least.
Theresa, I’ve often asked myself that same question, but the info put out on many missing persons cases can be quite limited. For example, right now, there are 331 individuals listed as missing on the IDPS’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse site. Of the 331 missing, 65 have a photo.
My understanding is that the investigating agency will provide a photo to MPIC “if” the one filing the missing person report provides a picture of the individual to LE officials at the time they file the MP report.
Missing persons photos may be emailed to mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us, but the photo or photos will have to be verified by the appropriate jurisdiction.
A lot of people who were listed as missing on this page have been taken down. What happened to the kid with the surname Nissen?
Anon, Brian Nissen’s case was removed from both the IDPS’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse site, and his case also removed from NamUs, which means for whatever reason, they no longer consider him missing. I cull through our Missing page frequently, and when I see they’ve been removed from the other two sites (some don’t even make it to NamUs), then I remove them from ICC’s “Missing” page. A lot of our missing people don’t have personal case summary pages because there’s so little info about them online. The MPIC staff with the state are adding and deleting names from their database every day.
htttp://gye6645.toshibanetcam.com
I contacted the police about someone that I believe to be missing and they only called the person. I believe she is being held against her will and the people holding her has her phone what should I do now
Call in a welfare check- I believe the usual is for them to physically check on the person. Wouldn’t hurt.
Scenny Tate and Omon Watson have long-standing fostercare cases. There has been a lot of activity in both cases since they were reported missing. Looks like Scenny Tate’s mom is Scenny Pleas and dad’s name is Tyrone Tate and that Omon Watson’s mom is Scenny Pleas and Cyris Watson is Omon Watson’s dad. In May of 2018, both Scenny Tate and Omon Watson were “PLACED IN TEMPORARY CARE & CUSTODY OF TAKIYRAH DYE PENDING FURTHER ORDER OF THE COURT.”
Why were so many without picture’s? The public needs to know what they look like in order to be found. I never knew there were so many people in Iowa that are missing. I pray that they are all ok and safe.
The state (and the police) gave you incorrect information about Jesse Giovanni Nimaja Pol. His name isn’t “Nimajapol” it is “Nimaja Pol.” Also, there are some internet postings from someone named “Adexe Nauzet Giovanni Nimaja Pol” from Denison, Iowa. Was his real name Jesse?
This appears to be Tyler hackett’s facebook profile
I wonder why some names are not highlighted? Can’t read anything on them.
Kathleen, the names that are highlighted have individual pages on the Iowa Cold Cases website. At the top of the page, it tells readers to simply click on the black and white image for the other names, which takes one to the missing persons page on the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Missing Person Clearinghouse page. These are still cases where we have very little information, so until we gather that info, we link directly to the MPIC site. I apologize for the confusion.
I hope ALL of these people get found!
Sadly If Were Goin Back To 1900-2001 Those Missing People Are No Longer With Us Anymore. Some Has Murdered Them :/ May God Rest Your Souls
https://www.facebook.com/people/Steven-Reese/100008614277271 This appears to be Steven Reese’s facebook page.
The Iowa Courts Online website says that Phillip Bizzell’s full name is Phillip Terry Bizzell, with a DOB of 08/29/1960. Various online records show him as having an address, or having had an address, in the state of Oregon.
If all of these missing people were some how connected the person responsible would be 62 years old. If you closely look at the year or location in which the person went missing the years aren’t too far apart, some being very close together. That also includes locations though. Most of these locations are only a couple hours apart but are still in a general area. The ones that seem to be more than two hours apart from each other tend to go missing a couple months apart. I think there’s a pattern involved but I also think it was the same person responsible for all of these people. It’s possible except for the case of 1930. Also if most of these cases involved a person being seen in a car, and then never again it’s also quite possible the person is still out there.
It appears that Lexus Wright may not be missing. Have a look at this link: https://resumes.indeed.com/resume/1198d29cc80cc66a?rsrdr=1
She appears to have a resume online here, which was updated in May 2016 (if this is the same person, from Des Moines, Iowa).
I emailed the mpicinfo@dps.state.ia.us contact info about this two weeks ago, and didn’t hear back. Nothing.
Anonymous, thanks for the info on Lexus Wright. It does appear to be the same person, but until law enforcement officials notify the MPIC and ask that she be removed, I’ll probably keep her listed. There are several others listed here that actually Facebook accounts, but there’s no solid proof that the person posting is the actual owner of the account. (i.e. No selfies, etc.) Hopefully the MPIC will look into this. Thanks for passing along the info!
Under what circumstances did Crystal Steward go missing?
My prayers goes out to all the families, friends and to those who are missing. I can’t imagine what or how you feel. The best I can do is to pray that all who are missing be found and for those who are left with that empty place in yours hearts be healed. God bless.
It looks like Jennifer Tweedt is no longer missing:
Andrea, it may (or may not) be the same Jennifer Tweedt, but we still show her name on our Missing Persons page b/c she’s still listed as missing on the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety’s MPIC site. http://www.iowaonline.state.ia.us/mpic/Controller.aspx?cmd=personDetailCommand&id=27500
Says she was reported missing to the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office in Osage on Feb. 3, 2012. The Jennifer T. on FB is in Waterloo (just a few counties away), but either she or the reporting person needs to contact the Mitchell County sheriff (641-732-4740) to verify she’s been safely located.
Thank you for the heads up! Just last night I removed Alfredo Rodriguez from the MP page, though haven’t yet switched his status over to an unsolved homicide b/c officials haven’t yet publicly released a cause or manner of death.
I wonder how many of these cases could be solved if there were systematic efforts to search bodies of water with the new Side Scan Sonar systems.
Quite a few of these cases involve an individual who was last seen leaving in a vehicle, and neither the individual or vehicle were ever seen again.
Jenni, I agree with your comment. However, it costs money to do these searches. Also, there are two couples who have small boats that can do this.
As a former submarine sailor, I am familiar with other tools the military has used to find submarines, that might more useful, and possibly quicker.
I have been keeping track of stories of where vehicles have been found containing the remains of people missing. In one case law enforcement divers recovered two vehicles missing for almost 40 years on a dive to try out some new equipment.
Jenni, I assume you have heard of the dive group Adventures with Purpose. They have cleared about 24 missing persons cases. They seem in a one case to have done what law enforcement failed to do.
There was a recent case from the Philadelphia area, of a man, who disappeared a number of years ago. He worked the midnight shift for UPS, and was a diabetic.
He over slept and was running late to pick up the kids from the babysitter, and disappeared. I came across his case about 40 or five months ago. I looked at my AAA Road Atlas, and figured he ended up in a specific body of water.
Well, that’s where they found him and his pickup truck. It was interesting that there had been some improvements made to a pier of whatever. So, the divers found a pylon that was driven through the engine compartment of the truck. If the contractors had done a underwater survey, they would have found the truck a few years ago,
Patrick yes AWP actually found Ethan Kazmerak who was missing from Hampton Iowa, but if you watch them I assume you know already wish more people would do what they do
The case of missing Marion resident, James Booher, is now being treated as a homicide, despite not finding his body yet. Links to CR Gazette articles about the case:
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/missing-man-investigation-leads-police-to-possible-meth-lab-20140624
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/memorial-service-scheduled-for-missing-marion-man-20141017
Forgot to link to the original article about Booher’s disappearance:
https://www.thegazette.com/police-say-marion-mans-disappearance-is-suspicious-20140613
Kim, thanks so much for the update on James Booher. I’ve now got a page added for him with all the updated info at: https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/james-booher/
Since his body has not yet been found, I kept him listed here on the MP page but also added him to the Homicides page for the 2000-present cases. I sure hope his family is able to find answers soon.
Thanks again!
Pray for the lost souls out there to many people gone what is this country coming to
Wow. So many ppl. I pray for them all.