First Nebraska Missing Persons Day Raises Awareness to Keep Searching for Loved Ones

LINCOLN–(KFOR Oct. 17)–The first ever Nebraska Missing Persons Day was launched Thursday to further raise awareness and help in finding people that have vanished and haven’t been seen or heard from in years.

This would include Gina Bos, who was last seen October 17, 2000 leaving the old Duggan’s Pub in downtown Lincoln after an open mic night.  Jannel Rap is Bos’ sister and the founder of the Gina for Missing Persons Foundation.  She said with the passage of LB 1102 in the Nebraska Legislature, it’s recognizing and affirming the everyday anguish of the families of those who have simply vanished.

“This day not only honors the missing, but it gives their loved ones hope that this day’s event will help raise awareness to their loved one’s disappearance,” Rap told a gathering Thursday morning inside First Christian Church in downtown Lincoln.

Among the speakers was Lonnie Goodrich, the father of 35-year-old Tyler Goodrich of Lincoln, who hasn’t been seen or heard from since Nov. 3, 2023, after he left his southwest Lincoln home following a disagreement.  Lonnie Goodrich said families of loved ones that have disappeared need to continue to educate the importance of not giving up on missing persons cases to law enforcement, lawmakers and the general public that the problem doesn’t go away.  It get’s bigger.

He adds there are so many avenues to use in reaching people to find those that have disappeared.

“36,000 followers on his (Tyler’s Missing Person Facebook page) that are just as deeply invested in bringing him home, as the family is,” Lonnie Goodrich said.

Also acknowledged as among the missing persons active investigations is 30-year-old Jerica Hamre of Lincoln, who disappeared June 25 of this year, last seen near her home off of 36th and Huntington.

To find out more about Nebraska Missing Persons Day, go to 411gina.org.