Jon Lacina missing person poster.
The parents of missing Iowa State University student Jon Lacina are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for any new information that leads to their son.
Jon Lacina, a senior from Grinnell majoring in graphic design, was reported missing January 22nd. I.S.U. police chief, Jerry Stewart, says air ground and campus searches have failed to find him.
Stewart says no “substantive leads” have been developed in the case. Stewart says they’ve also looked at electronic records connected to Lacina, and those efforts have also failed to show any sign of him. He says specialized forensic computer software is being used, and that takes time, but he says nothing has been found to indicate any electronic activity since January 22nd.
Lacina was last seen leaving a party. Stewart says they’ve expanded the search beyond the Ames campus. Stewart says they’ve asked the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s Intelligence Bureau to research other missing persons cases, and the Ames Police Department has contacted departments in Superior, Wisconsin and Lakeville, Minnesota regarding the recent disappearances of men in those areas.
Stewart says the reward is the next logical step as they try to find any clue that can help them find Lacina. Stewart says foul play could be involved, but nothing has been ruled out. “I’ve indicated all along that Jon’s disappearance certainly seems to be suspicious, it’s been characterized by his friends and family that it would be very unusual for Jon simply to take off,” Stewart says. But he says history has taught them that it can sometimes happen, as they had an individual in the 90’s who took his money and left school and was gone for seven years. Stewart says the person had no contact with his family in that time.
Lacina’s parents, Tom and Alesia Lacina of Grinnell are offering the reward. Anyone with information on Lacina should call the I.S.U. Police at 515-294-4428 or the Ames Police Department at 515-239-5133. Those who wish to contribute to the reward fund can send donations to the Jon Lacina Reward Fund that has been established at two Grinnell banks — Grinnell State Bank and Patriot Bank in Grinnell.
For more information on the accounts, contact Connie Locker, Grinnell State Bank, 814 4th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50112, (641) 236-3174, [email protected] or Karen Dillon, Patriot Bank, 619 6th Ave., Grinnell, IA 50122, (641) 236-7700, [email protected].