Katharina Buczek
For instance, just a few weeks before he vanished, he’d left school and was later found at his grandmother’s home, which was located a few blocks away.
But this time was different, as Ryan had always been found in the past.
Upon learning her son had walked out of school, Tammi was advised to head home and check if Ryan was there. She headed to their residence at the Southland Apartment Complex and subsequently went to La Vista West Elementary once she confirmed Ryan wasn’t at home.
At that point, Tammi found out her son was having a problem in class prior to his disappearance.
“He had an issue, I believe, with a math problem, and he was having a hard time. So part of Ryan’s special individual education plan, his IEP, [is that] he can move to a different room to calm down,” she explained.
Tammi claimed her son was left unattended for a little while as he switched classrooms, and he ultimately walked out of school.
Since Ryan had a history of running away, investigators knew a few areas to check for him. But after searching the school property, local parks, businesses, his apartment complex, the playground, and garages, Ryan wasn’t found.
His umbrella, which he’d had with him the day he vanished, was located near a dumpster in his apartment complex. This umbrella was given to Ryan by his sister, who had moved out recently, and it reportedly meant a lot to him.
Police tested the umbrella, and it did have Ryan’s DNA on it. This clue proved that he’d gone home after walking out of school.
However, Ryan didn’t have a key to his apartment, and since his mother wasn’t home, there was no way for him to get inside. What exactly happened to Ryan afterward remains a mystery.
According to Captain D.J. Barcal, acting chief of the La Vista Police Department, there is no evidence of foul play right now.
