35 replies to this topic

[Kelly]

http://omaha.com/art...EWS01/708209939

Published Friday August 20, 2010

Robert Nelson: Spreading the word

Karen Andersen occasionally will post a message on the Facebook page that was set up for her daughter, Jennifer.

Karen’s most recent post:

“It has been five months since our beautiful daughter disappeared without a trace. The pain of her absence from our lives is unbelievable and will only go away when we’re able to find her.

“Jenny, we will not give up praying for you and searching for you! Every day is so sad without you. We miss you so much! You brought so much joy into our lives!”

The note appeared on a Facebook page with nearly 22,000 members. All of whom are asked to send links to the page to their friends as well as print out copies of Jennifer’s missing-persons poster for distribution in the neighborhoods all across the United States.

A “hot line number” is included for anyone who might have information about Jennifer.
E-mails, Facebook pages, Twitter tweets

Today, the families of missing persons, of which there are more than 500 in Nebraska alone, have so many more tools for finding their loved ones.

“A decade ago, we would have been lucky to have a few little posters in a few post offices around the country.” Karen Anderson said. “At least we now have more tools at our disposal now.”

Even with all the technological help though, the family hasn’t received a shred of new information regarding their daughter.

On March 8, Jennifer 33, called her parents, who live outside Sutton, Neb., south of Hastings. She sounded distraught, Karen said.

So Karen and her husband, Carl, drove to Omaha to offer support to their child. They talked with her until about 1:30 the next morning. Then Karen went to bed. When she awoke around 7:30 a. m. Jennifer was nowhere to be found.

“All we found was a little note on the counter saying she needed to go for a drive.” Karen said. “That’s the last contact we’ve had from her.”

Several days later, Jennifer’s car was found parked near Rick’s Café Boatyard on Omaha’s riverfront.

Police and sheriff’s deputies investigated but found nothing. Rescue teams scoured the river as friends of Jennifer blanketed the Old Market with posters.

Still nothing.

Still nothing to this day.

Which, even with all the modern tools for helping find a missing person, leaves the Andersons in the same terrible place as anyone else who ever had a loved one disappear.

“It’s this nightmarish limbo,” Karen said. “You’re stuck between grieving and trying to remain hopeful. “It just brings you to your knees.”

Until the Andersons learn more, they’re stuck with the innumerable scenarios rushing through their minds. Did she commit suicide by jumping into the river?

“She was definitely upset about some things, but they were small things.” Karen said. “She was going to get married. She was looking for jobs in Arkansas, where her boyfriend lives, She had all sorts or reasons to be excited about life.”

Did she go for a walk?

“She loved the Old Market.” Karen said. “She loved to just walk that area.”

“Everything goes through your mind.” Karen said “Did she hop in with some truck driver or somebody else? Was she abducted? Was she attacked? “It’s just maddening not knowing.”
And as the months go by, the constant fear and worrying take a toll on the family members.
“It’s so hard to even remember things. With all that, you’re also asking yourself what more you could be doing.

“It’s a hell I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”

If you have any information regarding Jennifer Anderson’s disappearance, you can call the Douglas Count Sheriffs Office at (402) 444-6000.

Facebook page set up for Jennifer by her family. (Just Google “Jennifer Anderson” and missing and it will lead you to the Facebook page)

“Your hope does fade a bit as the months go by.” Karen said. “Still you’ve got to hope. There are stories of people showing up after 10 years, even more. So it has happened. You have to remember that it does happen.”

[Denise Harrison]

http://www.wowt.com/...04.html?ref=904

Last Search For Missing Woman

Jennifer Andersen disappeared in March

Family, friends and volunteers gathered near Lewis and Clark Landing along the Omaha riverfront Saturday to try to find clues in the search for Jennifer Andersen, who disappeared last March.

Posted: 3:55 PM Oct 9, 2010
Reporter: Nadia Singh
Updated: 5:13 PM Oct 9, 2010

Editor's note: be sure to click on link to watch video.

Family, friends and volunteers gathered near Lewis and Clark Landing along the Omaha riverfront Saturday to try to find clues in the search for Jennifer Andersen, who disappeared last March.

Her car was found nearby at Rick's Boatyard Cafe. Those who joined this latest search effort came with heavy hearts and a lot of hope. “As a mother I can't rest knowing that she's out there, she's somewhere,” said Karen Andersen.
ADVERTISEMENT

Karen has been looking for her daughter since March. Jennifer’s bizarre disappearance spurred many searches, but Saturday morning marked what the family called the final search, hoping for one clue to give everyone closure.

Karen held back tears as she led a prayer. “We ask that you keep these individuals safe as they go out and search." The search parties began their routes around the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Landing, where Jennifer was reportedly last seen.

Those closest to her still believe she'll be found. “We're not giving up on you and we love you and we miss you and we are ready to create great memories with you going forward, so come home to us,” said Amanda Harrington, Jennifer’s best friend.

Coming home is a comforting notion, one that Jennifer's mother knows may or may not be a reality, yet she still remains positive. “Of course we’d rather not find evidence that she's been in the water because that means that she's gone, but, we have hope.”

More than 100 volunteers joined in the effort. The United States ATV Search and Rescue Team went along with seven search dogs aiding in the search. Team Waters sonar was also involved to aid with underwater imaging.

Anyone with information about Jennifer’s disappearance is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff's Department at 444-6627.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.action3ne....asp?S=13297007

7 Months Later, Search for Jennifer Andersen Continues
10/09/2010

Omaha, NE - It's been 7 months to the date since 33-year-old Jennifer Andersen went missing. She was a nurse at Methodist Hospital in Omaha who went missing March 9.

In the 7 months, there have been numerous search efforts, but still no sign of the missing woman. Her family and friends still holding on to hope, call in national search and rescue teams for a final search Saturday.

ATVs cruising along the river, Sonar rescue combing the waters, search dogs along the river bank, and more than 100 volunteers canvassing the city in a final search for Andersen Saturday. A show of support to her family as all rescue teams and volunteers start their search at Rick's Boatyard Cafe Saturday morning.

"(It's been) A nightmare," said Karen Andersen, Jennifer's mother. "As parents your kids are the most important things in the world to you and to have her disappear, it's just been awful."

7 months-that's how long it's been since Karen Andersen talked to her daughter, telling her 'goodnight.'

"The next morning we woke up and she was gone," Karen said.

Jennifer planned to move to Arkansas in May, where her boyfriend lives. Her mom says she became overwhelmed with the life changes of moving, searching for a new job, and leaving her family and friends behind. So, her parents, from Edgar, NE, came to Omaha as a show of support.

"While we were asleep in the bedroom, she was on the sofa, she got up and left in the middle of the night," Karen remembers.

Karen and her husband woke up about 7:30 the next morning to find her cell phone and a note.

"She left a note saying 'I had to go for a drive,'" Karen said.

5 days after she went missing, her car showed up at Rick's Boatyard Cafe, but she's nowhere to be found.

Today, friends and complete strangers, all touched by her story, remain hopeful, searching again.

"Just being down here you can feel the importance of just finding some answers," said Casey Smith, a volunteer.

"We have hope. Hope that she's still alive somewhere and we can get her back home because we all just miss her so much," said Karen.

Andersen was last seen March 9 wearing a gray jacket and jeans. She's 33-years-old, 5'7", 115 pounds with blonde hair. If you have any information, call the Douglas County Sheriff at 402-444-6000.

[Lori Davis]

http://www.omaha.com...0109917/1031134

River searched for missing nurse
By Rick Ruggles
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
Published Saturday October 9, 2010

Sunlight poured out of the wide blue sky and gleamed off the river that might hold Karen Andersen's daughter.

Andersen thanked the people who came Saturday to the Missouri River to look for some clue, any trace, of Jennifer Andersen, 33, who has been missing since March 9.

The mother prayed aloud that the searchers stayed safe and that their senses remained keen. She expressed appreciation for the glorious fall day.

Then more than 50 people from the Edgar, Neb., area, where Jennifer grew up, and Omaha, where Jennifer worked as a registered nurse, spread out on both sides of the river.

“It's heart-warming to have her friends and even strangers show up to help look for her,” the mother said.

They looked for the young woman's charcoal gray jacket and her dark leggings. They looked for her silver ring and her keychain containing a black-and-white lizard flashlight.

What they know is that Jennifer Andersen had been upset the night before she disappeared, and her parents had driven from their Edgar farm to be with her. The next morning she was gone. Her car was eventually found near Rick's Cafe Boatyard on the riverfront.

“It's hard to live without knowing,” Karen Andersen said.

Previous searches have turned up nothing. A private investigator hired by the Andersens said Saturday that the Douglas County Sheriff's Office suspects no foul play.

And so friends and strangers turned out to search. They used boats and dogs and mainly their own legs and eyes to look along the riverbank.

They went south and north of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. The American Red Cross brought bottles of water. Numerous Metropolitan Community College students helped search.

Family members handed out T-shirts that read: “Bring Jen Home. Search. Pray. Believe.”

As the search wound down and the volunteers returned, the situation remained unchanged. It leaves a lot of emptiness.

Karen Andersen said it's easy for others to say it's time to give up. She just wants some tangible evidence that will indicate what happened to her daughter. “And as a mother, how do you quit?”

[Lori Davis]

http://www.wowt.com/...04.html?ref=904

Last Search For Missing Woman
Jennifer Andersen disappeared in March
Family, friends and volunteers gathered near Lewis and Clark Landing along the Omaha riverfront Saturday to try to find clues in the search for Jennifer Andersen, who disappeared last March.

Posted: 3:55 PM Oct 9, 2010
Updated: 5:13 PM Oct 9, 2010
Reporter: Nadia Singh

Family, friends and volunteers gathered near Lewis and Clark Landing along the Omaha riverfront Saturday to try to find clues in the search for Jennifer Andersen, who disappeared last March.

Her car was found nearby at Rick's Boatyard Cafe. Those who joined this latest search effort came with heavy hearts and a lot of hope. “As a mother I can't rest knowing that she's out there, she's somewhere,” said Karen Andersen.

Karen has been looking for her daughter since March. Jennifer’s bizarre disappearance spurred many searches, but Saturday morning marked what the family called the final search, hoping for one clue to give everyone closure.

Karen held back tears as she led a prayer. “We ask that you keep these individuals safe as they go out and search." The search parties began their routes around the Missouri River and Lewis and Clark Landing, where Jennifer was reportedly last seen.

Those closest to her still believe she'll be found. “We're not giving up on you and we love you and we miss you and we are ready to create great memories with you going forward, so come home to us,” said Amanda Harrington, Jennifer’s best friend.

Coming home is a comforting notion, one that Jennifer's mother knows may or may not be a reality, yet she still remains positive. “Of course we’d rather not find evidence that she's been in the water because that means that she's gone, but, we have hope.”

More than 100 volunteers joined in the effort. The United States ATV Search and Rescue Team went along with seven search dogs aiding in the search. Team Waters sonar was also involved to aid with underwater imaging.

Anyone with information about Jennifer’s disappearance is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff's Department at 402-444-6627.

[Jenn]

Charley Project Profile for Jennifer: http://www.charleypr...n_jennifer.html

[Kelly]

Jennifer has been placed on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angels campaign. A special poster has been made for her and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:

http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

In addition to the campaign, Jennifer was also featured in a national trucking publications, either Independent Contractor or TruckJobSeekers. These free magazines are distributed in truck stops nationwide and have a circulation of about 150,000.

Independent Contractor and TruckJobSeekers are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they each feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

We hope this helps in the search for Jennifer. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.



Thank you.

Kelly, Project Jason

[Kelly]

A special story written by the family for the 18 Wheel Angel's Campaign:

Missing Jennifer Andersen
Desperate family needs your help

On March 9th 2010 our family's world was shattered by the disappearance of our precious 33 year old daughter, Jennifer Lynne Andersen.

On  the morning of March 8th, we received a call from Jennifer who was crying and distraught over some personal issues she was dealing with and some life changes she was about to make.  Out of our concern,  we made the 2 1/2 hour drive to Omaha to see if there was anything we could do to help.  We spent the evening talking with Jennifer, she had calmed down and we thought we had a plan worked out for the next morning to deal with the problematic issues.  Sometime between the hours of 1:30 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. on March 9th, while we were asleep, Jennifer left her apartment at 120th & Blondo in Omaha, and seemed to disappear into thin air.  She hasn't been seen since.  She left a note that said she needed to go for a drive. 

Five days after Jen's disappearance, her car was found in the parking lot at Rick's Boatyard Cafe in Omaha which is located by the Missouri River.  It's a very busy area of town but it's not the safest area.  It's located by the Quest Center, close to the Old Market area, Interstate 80, bus stops, and Am Track.  Homeless people live along the banks of the river.  Jennifer's car was locked and her purse with credit cards, driver's license etc. was left on the seat.  She took her keys with her and no doubt would have put them in the pocket of her winter coat.

It rained for two days after she left.  After investigating the area and going through the car, law enforcement did not find any signs of foul play.  The river has been searched and continues to be searched without a trace of Jen.  For those of us who love her, we cannot give up hope of finding her and acknowledge that there are other possibilities of what might have happened to her.  We know she's out there somewhere.  We just don't know where.  That's why we're asking for your help.

Jen had a lot to live for.  She and her boyfriend were planning to become engaged in a couple weeks, and for Jen to move to Ft. Smith, Arkansas at the end of April.  Jen had applied for jobs while visiting her boyfriend two weeks prior to her disappearance and was in the process of applying for an Arkansas State Nursing License.

Jennifer graduated Suma Cum Laude from Creighton School of Nursing and has received many accolades during her 10 years of work as a nurse.  In 2006, she was chosen "Nurse of the Year" at Methodist Hospital  for her excellent patient care, professionalism and her ability to work with the doctors and supporting staff. 

Jennifer has a captivating personality, is witty and full of fun, intelligent, she's a bright spot in every one's day, loves helping others, enjoys flowers, the great outdoors , friends and family and last but not least, has the beauty of an angel.  She has huge blue eyes that you can't miss!  Jen is a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin, a sweetheart and a friend and is such a joy to all who know her.  Words cannot express the anguish and pain we are going through with her disappearance.  We are just devastated.  Our lives will never be the same without her and there will be no rest until she is found!

Will you please help us in our efforts to find Jennifer by hanging her posters in the truck stops, sharing her story with others, keeping an eye out for her and reporting any information you may have to the Douglas County Sheriff's Dept. in Omaha, NE.  Phone:  402-444-6000.

May God bless you and thank you for your help!

Carl and Karen Andersen
Parents of Jennifer Andersen missing since March 9, 2010

[Jenn]

http://www.action3ne....asp?S=13853233

Search Continues for Missing Omaha Woman

January 17, 2011 Reported By Adam Racusi

Omaha, NE - Search and rescue crews hit the banks of the Missouri river looking for Jennifer Andersen.

The 33 year old, nurse at Methodist Hospital, disappeared March of last year.

To this day her there has been no activity on her cell phone, credit cards or bank account but volunteers are still holding onto hope.

ATV's kick into gear as search dogs comb the river bank.

Rescue teams scour the grounds along the Missouri river looking for any sign of Jennifer Andersen.

"We've been looking for Jennifer Anderson since March of last year but the water was too high. That's why we've come down here, the rivers receded and we want to see if we can find any clues," says DJ Ginsberg with US ATV Search and Rescue.

The point of interest is just east of South Omaha along the Nebraska – Iowa border.

Through the tree lined and snow covered banks crews trudged through the tough terrain.

"We have access to it so we're just going to take a look around and see what we find," says search and rescue volunteer Scott Cernik.

It's the first time search teams have had access to this particular location when it was in the right conditions to be searched.

Anderson was last seen 10 months ago at her apartment. She left a note for her parents saying she had to go for a drive, but never returned. Her car was found near Rick's Boatyard Cafe a few days later, but Andersen was nowhere to be found.

"It is assumed at this point that she went into the river, it's an assumption we don't know for sure," says Ginsberg.

Search crews are determined to keep looking until Andersen is found.

US ATV Search and rescue crews say they are normally called in to search areas that are not very accessible by foot. The equipment allows them to sift through the hard to reach areas. Crews say did find some clues, but need to go back out to the area for a second look once the weather conditions improve.

[Kelly]

Carl Wayne Andersen  (Father of Jennifer)

Feb. 15, 1939 - Dec. 17, 2014

 

Sutton resident Carl Wayne Andersen, 75, lost his battle with cancer on the evening of December 17, 2014, at his home with his family at his side.

 

Services will be 1:30 p.m., Monday, December 22, 2014, at the Federated Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Scharleen Cross and Rev. Harry Cross officiating. Interment will follow at the Ong Cemetery in Ong, NE. Visitation will be Sunday, from 1 – 8 p.m., with the family present from 4 – 6 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE.

 

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.

[Kelly]

The father of missing Jennifer Andersen has passed away. We were so privileged to have met Carl. He was clearly a loving, nurturing father and loved our dear Karen with all his heart.  He was inspiring to all of us as he dealt with his illnesses and trauma of loosing Jennifer with such grace and dignity. I will never forget my last hug with him. I'm glad I had all those moments together. He won't be forgotten.