Kazmerzak disappearance: “A year’s a long time”

By: 
Nick Pedley

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    April Hemmes fought back tears as she described the agonizing uncertainty she and her husband, Tom Kazmerzak, have faced in the year since their son’s disappearance.

    “To try to explain to you what we’ve been through this past year is impossible,” said Hemmes. “That’s why we’re up here begging anyone who knows anything to please call and give them some kind of information, because a year’s a long time. We really need closure with this.”

    The emotional plea came during a press conference Monday morning at the Windsor Theatre in Hampton marking the one-year anniversary of Ethan Kazmerzak’s disappearance. Despite Hemmes’ heartbreaking testimony, neither she nor law enforcement officials had any new information about the puzzling circumstances surrounding the year old case.

    “We have nothing so far,” Hemmes said. “Please call the tip line and help us bring our boy home.”

    Kazmerzak’s disappearance has been shrouded in mystery since he went missing in the early morning hours of Sept. 15, 2013. In spite of extensive search efforts, law enforcement officials have faced dead ends and discovered no substantial evidence leading them to either Kazmerzak or the car he was driving that night.

    Kazmerzak’s last known location was near the intersection of 190th Street and Olive Avenue northwest of Hampton. Local ponds were scoured by scuba divers and sonar equipment, aerial searches were conducted by planes and rural farmland was combed by ATVs for any clues to his whereabouts last fall.

    At Monday’s press conference, Hampton Police Chief Bob Schaefer felt finding Kazmerzak’s car was ultimately key to finding Kazmerzak himself. He was driving a silver 2006 Volkswagen Jetta with the license plate AUZ 382 on the night of his disappearance, which hasn’t been seen since.

    “One of the things I would like to stress is that we have not located a vehicle,” Schaefer said. “Both he and the vehicle are still missing. That vehicle would be a big part and would maybe lead us to where he’s at.”

    A $20,000 reward was issued in November for any new information about Kazmerzak’s whereabouts. The reward expired in December but was renewed this spring with the hopes of attracting new leads. Only a few useless tips surfaced, and the trail surrounding Kazmerzak’s disappearance has remained cold ever since.

    “If anybody knows anything, no matter how minor they think they might be, if they would at least contact us…that would be greatly appreciated,” Schaefer said.

    Kazmerzak was well known around Hampton and was heavily involved in the local arts scene. He enjoyed spending time at the Windsor Theatre, and was even slated to direct the annual holiday play there last year.

    A small group of friends and supporters sat behind the news cameras at Monday’s press conference. Tom Kazmerzak flanked Hemmes while she shared her statement, but offered no comment of his own.

    Hemmes thanked the local outpouring of support she and her family received during the past year and asked people to keep sharing her son’s story. She said she constantly hopes he’ll pull into the driveway some day, but knew it was a very real possibility that she’ll get “the worst possible news any parent could ever receive.”

    Monday’s press conference was the first time Hemmes had spoken publically about her son’s disappearance. She said people frequently ask her about Ethan and shared a conversation she had with a friend recently.

    “She said, ‘Oh, April. We need to bring our boy home,’ ” Hemmes recalled. “She said, ‘He’s our boy, he’s my boy, he’s this town’s boy, he’s this town’s son. He’s our son and everyone who knows you and cares about you wants to help him come home.’ ”

    Law enforcement officials urge anyone with information regarding Kazmerzak’s disappearance to call the Hampton Police Department at (641) 456-2529 or North Iowa Crime Stoppers at (800) 383-0088. Kazmerzak was described by authorities as being about 5’ 5” tall, 185 pounds, with blond hair and a reddish-colored beard. He wears thick, black-rimmed glasses.

    “As she said, it’s been a year and that’s too long. We would just like to have some closure for the family,” Schaefer said.

A full video of Monday's press conference can be found here.

Hampton Chronicle

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Hampton, IA 50441
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