http://www.kansascity.com/2010/11/19/2453909/event-highlights-umkc-student.htmlEvent highlights UMKC student who disappeared in Chicago four years ago.
By JIM SULLINGER
The Kansas City Star
Posted on Fri, Nov. 19, 2010 10:37 PM
It will be four years on Sunday that Jesse Ross, nicknamed Opie, went to a Model United Nations Conference in Chicago and disappeared.
The 19-year-old University of Missouri-Kansas City sophomore left a downtown Chicago hotel Nov. 21 and hasnt been seen since.
That hasnt stopped family and friends, however, from hoping for his return.
You can never give up hope, said Donald Ross, his father.
And there was plenty of that on hand Friday night as Donald Ross and his wife, Donna Ross, of Belton held the fifth OpieFest, a celebration of hope that Jesse will be found and a fundraiser to help defray expenses incurred by the family when they travel to Chicago to look for Jesse.
His father will make another trip soon to talk with a Chicago detective assigned to the case and to put together another OpieFest there.
We want to establish awareness of Jesses case and raise funds for our Chicago trip, he said.
All through the evening, people arrived at the event at St. Regis Catholic Church, 8941 James A. Reed Road. The Burnt Ends, a six-member country band, played for the crowd. Many wore buttons that read Missing: Jesse Ross.
In the middle of the button was a picture of a smiling young man with glasses and close-cropped red hair.
But his picture wasnt the only one on display. A plea to find a missing person was at almost every table.
There was Kara E. Kopetsky, who disappeared after leaving Belton High School on May 4, 2007. And Jerry Tang, Emillie Hoyt,
Elsha Marie Rivera, Suzanne Gloria Lyall and Jason Jolkowski.
Its like an epidemic, said Rhonda Beckford of Belton, Karas mother.
Like many who came, she was there for support.
When something like this happens, you feel like youre alone, she said. When you meet other people, you know youre not alone. We have to support each other.
Members of the band Dead Giveaway were there. Jesse managed the band for two years and became close friends with its young members.
He loved us and we loved him, said Brandon Woodall, the drummer.
Stephen Lee graduated from OHara High School with Jesse in 2005.
He was a firecracker, Lee said. He was very outgoing and never afraid to speak his mind.
Lee said he was going to college in the Chicago area when Jesse arrived for his first Model United Nations Conference in 2005. Lee showed Jesse the town.
He was supposed to meet Jesse again in 2006 but never made the connection.
Lee heard Jesse was missing when he returned to Kansas City for Thanksgiving that year. Friday night, he attended OpieFest, one of many hoping Jesse and all the others will be found.
