From Hampton Mayor Shawn Dietz –
I am sending this release in hopes that the good People of the State of Iowa might help our community in the search for a missing young man, as well as update the general public on the search for 22-year-old Ethan Kazmerzak of Hampton who was last seen at approximately 12 a.m. on Sunday, September 15th.
The Hampton Police Department has been leading the investigation, and earlier this week enlisted the assistance of the Hampton Fire Department, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Franklin County Emergency Management, as well as the Iowa State Patrol, and Cerro Gordo County CERT (Certified Emergency Response Team). The individuals working with these organizations have been working hard to search for any clues as to what might have happened to Ethan, and where he may be since he and his vehicle disappeared over the weekend.
Hampton Police Chief, Bob Schaefer has kept me abreast of the situation, and tells me that every effort is continuing to find Ethan. Crews have continued to search Franklin County’s rural roads all week with no sign of a vehicle accident. On Monday, the Iowa State Patrol searched one area of Franklin County from the air for signs of Ethan’s 2006 Volkswagen Jetta, and on Wednesday, Cerro Gordo CERT performed an aerial search of an expanded area into portions of Butler County.
In Chief Schaefer’s Thursday morning briefing to me, he indicated that a dive team from the Ankeny area would be arriving to perform an underwater search at a pit in rural Franklin County near an area where Ethan was believed to be seen. The Hampton Police Department is continuing to check various leads, and conducting interviews of persons who may have interacted with Ethan prior to his disappearance. Chief Schaefer is appealing to the public to check their property (ditches, ponds, ravines, etc.).
With no sign of Ethan’s vehicle, it is my hope that the attached MISSING poster can be spread throughout the State of Iowa for residents and travelers to be on the lookout for this young man who continues to be missed by his family and friends. Anyone with any information or clues is asked to contact the Hampton Police Department at (641) 456-2529.
As an added way to spread awareness for Ethan’s disappearance, I hope you’ll join me in using the hashtag #FindEthan in social media posts, and as always any cooperation from the press and the general public in helping us locate Ethan Kazmerzak is greatly appreciated. We are continuing to pray for comfort for Ethan’s family in this agonizing time, and ultimately for Ethan’s safe return to his home in Hampton.
Shawn Dietz
Mayor
Hampton, IA
Authorities and volunteers completed and extensive perimeter (only searching a small area from last known location). If the “parties of interest” had anything to do with getting the car and Ethan, dead or alive, out of Iowa ASAP (just a few hours; you can be well out of state); the search party can search the entire state and still come up with nothing. I never heard anything about an Amber Alert or something broader. My heart goes out to the family and hope they can gain closure soon.
He may be ice fishing somewhere and doesn’t want people to bother him.. ? Why not during for those that are close by first and love will show it this way. Family , do not lose faith after all life is made of choices too.
The issue wasn’t stolen cars in Brooklyn. It was a rental car company that was registering their cars in Iowa to get cheaper insurance. They were using the streets of Brooklyn as storage space.
I don’t remember where I seen a article not long ago about stolen Iowa cars are being reported abandoned in the streets of Brooklyn NY. Maybe they need to do some checking on that.