Katharina Buczek
The following day, January 2, 2021, she was supposed to attend her brother’s birthday party. Yet, she was never seen or heard from again after reportedly getting out of the boat – leaving behind her cell phone, purse, and car keys.
Once an investigation into Jessica’s disappearance was launched, a Union County resident turned her phone in to the police. The resident claimed that he’d helped Jessica and Jerry while launching the boat into the river.
As for why the resident had held onto Jessica’s phone, he claimed that the couple was supposed to call him when they reached the end of their river excursion and needed to be picked up.
Authorities first launched an extensive search in the river with the aid of dive teams, thermal imaging drones, and cadaver dogs. But, no evidence connected to Jessica’s disappearance was found.
However, once investigators searched a region located on the north bank – where Jessica reportedly exited the boat – they discovered footprints. Additionally, they found one boot and a coat, which supposedly resembled the one Jessica had been wearing when she disappeared.
The single boot was a green rubber boot that had its top cut off. Jerry told investigators that Jessica had previously cut that part of the boot off since it was irritating her leg.
As for the footprints, they continued for approximately 100 yards – heading west up the river bank toward County Road 46. Then, they turned north toward Highway 30 before vanishing into standing water on a crop field.
Investigators discovered no other evidence or motive for foul play in Jessica’s disappearance, and her case remains unsolved.
But, an interview conducted by NewsNation in February 2023 has raised some questions about the accuracy of Jerry’s story.
Journalists reached out to Jerry via phone regarding Jessica’s case, and he reportedly shared a very different story than what he told authorities.
In fact, Jerry reportedly claimed that he was never in a boat with Jessica since neither of them could swim. Additionally, he said that he was working on January 1, 2021.
