08/25/2026
STILL MISSING - Ryan Larsen, 11, of Nebraska
Ryan was 11 at the time of his disappearance. from La Vista, Nebraska on May 17, 2021.
Background: Ryan walked out of La Vista West Elementary School unaccompanied — something he'd reportedly done before, only to be found safe each time. This time he wasn't. Ryan had autism, Tourette's Disorder, and seizures.
Investigation: Police initially treated the disappearance as non-suspicious but later said they hadn't ruled out abduction or harm. Searches, including a nearby dumpster where his umbrella was found, turned up no evidence.
Legal case: His mother, Tammi Larsen, sued Papillion-La Vista Community Schools, alleging negligent supervision. She also sought to have Ryan legally declared deceased, but a judge ruled she hadn't met the burden of proof required.
Recent development: As of September 2025, the Nebraska Supreme Court revived the negligence lawsuit against the school district, ruling that a lower court had prematurely dismissed the case. (WOWT) (Nebraska Examiner) The case has been sent back for further proceedings.
When it comes to NEBRASKA MISSING PERSONS, we recommend following this page called Bring 'Em Home Nebraska.
We will be featuring them in the Sunday Scanner Newspaper this week, with their continued search efforts for Ryan Larsen.
Bring 'Em Home Nebraska is a volunteer group, founded by Erik Rezabek, that helps families search for missing loved ones at no cost.
Latest search (this month)
The group organized a public search of the Walnut Creek reservoir area — a location previously flagged by cadaver dogs but never conclusively cleared. Rezabek said the site could use a fresh set of eyes, adding that even a negative result is useful: it would confirm Ryan's not there so the team can rule it out and move to the next location.
Volunteers met at Walnut Creek Recreation Area on a recent Sunday, with turnout encouraged since a larger group could cover more ground.
Context on Walnut Creek
This isn't the group's first time at that lake — it's the same area where a cadaver dog hit on a section last year, prompting authorities to lower the lake and search, though nothing was found at that time. It's also the location where, back in 2021, K9 units first picked up a scent shortly after Ryan disappeared.
Stay with us as we continue to cover all missing person's cases in Nebraska, not only on our page here, but also every week in our new weekly newspaper.
