Missing posters created for Kazmerzak; 2nd aerial search may start Thursday

Local authorities have created a missing poster for Ethan Kazmerzak, the 22-year-old Hampton man who was last seen about 12 a.m. on Sept. 15. Kazmerzak has not been seen or heard from since friends last saw him at a party in rural Hampton.

The missing person poster - shown at left - can be downloaded from our Web site or the Hampton Chronicle Facebook page; and police have encouraged anyone who can help to post the flier throughout the area in hopes that some clues to Kazmerzak's whereabouts can be uncovered.

Hampton police Chief Bob Schaefer said that as of 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, no new leads had been developed and that Kazmerzak was still missing. Schaefer said that police are checking into all possible clues to what happened to the popular local resident.

"We have to cover all bases," Schaefer said. "Right now, we don't have a clue about what happened to him."

Schaefer did say that police have received a variety of tips, including that Kazmerzak had possibly driven his car into a watery pit at the rural location where he was seen at the party. However, Schaefer said he does not believe that is what happened.

"Personally, I don't think so," Schaefer said of the possibility Kazmerzak drove into water. "Based on what I know of that night, I don't think so."

Schaefer said that an all-volunteer CERT search and rescue team from Mason City that is equipped with multiple airplanes has decided to join in the search for Kazmerzak, likely beginning aerial scouting flights on Thursday.

"They have planes and will search an expanding grid centered at the last place he was seen, 190th Street and Olive Avenue," Schaefer said. 

Kazmerzak,22, is described as 5-feet, 5-inches tall, about 185 pounds, with dark blonde hair, a reddish-colored beard, and a Grateful Dead tattoo on one of his arms. He was last seen wearing orange or peach-colored shorts, a white or teal printed shirt, and black glasses. His vehicle is a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta with an Iowa license plate of AUZ 382.

Anyone who sees Kazmerzak or his vehicle, or has any information about his location, is strongly encouraged to not interact with Kazmerzak and instead immediately call police at (641) 456-2529.

Schaefer said that police do not consider Kazmerzak dangerous, but they fear he may try to run if he realizes someone has discovered him.

"If someone approaches him and he knows he's been found," Schaefer added. "He may just take off and run. We'd rather him not know he's been located so we can deal with the situation."