Teresa Larson
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Omaha, NE A little boy on his bike becomes the target of a killer.
It was March 23, 1986. His uncle says today, "There's no doubt in my mind, someone somewhere knows something by now." Ricky Chadek, 11 years old, was riding home from a friend's house when he stopped at a bank at 42nd and Valley. It was about five o'clock on a Sunday. His mother got worried when he didn't come home and after about 40 minutes, she went looking for him. No sign of Ricky. But she found his bike, with the kickstand down, parked by the dumpster. Sgt. Eric Sellers with the Douglas County Sheriff's Department says, "It was the first time he was allowed to ride his bike that distance and plans were made on the route for him to take to get home, he had to make a phone call to his mom so she would know when to expect him." Again, Ricky's uncle, Mike Chamberlin says, " We just need that guide. We need someone out there that knows that little tidbit of information that will lead to a possible arrest." After Ricky disappeared, thousands of missing posters were printed and put up all over town. A special law enforcement task force worked night and day to try to find Ricky and his kidnapper. A witness saw an older blue truck at the bank the same time as Ricky. And police released a composite sketch of a possible suspect. However, two decades later, cold case investigators wonder if they spent too much time searching for the blue truck, overlooking some other clue that may have been right in front of them. Back then, Ricky's mother even pleaded with her son's captor... but still nothing. She faced the camera and said, "Let my son go or let me know where he is. I'll come get him. He is only a little boy and has done you no harm. I love my son very much and I want him back. Please send Rick home." Eight long and sleepless days go by. Then the worst news possible for Ricky's family. On the morning of Monday March 31, 1986, a farmer found the boy's body in this grove of trees near 168th and Ida. Someone had choked Ricky to death. His uncle says, "He was a good kid, kind and gentle and never had any problems. He was being raised in a family household, a single parent and he was an absolute angel. He was very smart and she (Ricky's mother) was crushed." Now detectives were searching for a killer, who kept the boy alive somewhere in the area, all week. The autopsy showed Ricky had only been dead about 12 hours. Sgt. Sellers says during the week, "The suspect most likely took care of him to some extent. What do you mean took care of him? His clothes were clean, he appeared clean, signs he recently had a meal before his death." Cold case detectives today wonder if there was a religious connection. The killer took Ricky on Palm Sunday, held him during Holy Week and strangled him on Easter Sunday. Sgt. Sellers, "We don't know if there's significant value, there very well could be. Why was he taken that day or murdered on Easter." The Catholic family even held a vigil on Easter and set out Ricky's Easter basket on the church's altar. Police don't think Ricky's killer tortured him during that week in March. He had no signs of abuse, bruises or scratches. But his mother was and still is today... tortured with the anguish of not knowing, of wondering what happened to her only son. Theresa Chadek says, "My God it eats at you. Eight days, your child is missing and you don't know what happened." Theresa moved to another state several years after her boy's murder. She gave us a picture of herself today.. with Ricky's picture hanging on the wall in the background. 22 years later, there's still the pain and anguish of not knowing. The family wants answers. Mike Chamberlin, "I would only hope in some ways they would be wishing to clear their soul of what they've done once and for all." Theresa Chadek, "I just want him to stop and think. Stop and get it off your chest. You can ask for forgiveness and one day you may face God and if you've never asked for forgiveness, then God gets you and God help him, whoever he is." The bank put up a plaque on the bank's wall to remember Ricky. Cold case investigators say with today's new technology, it's very likely they could solve this 22 year old murder case. They just need someone to come forward with that piece of information. The tip line is 402.444-6000. This happened in a good area of town. Nobody would have ever thought this would happen around there. It is right off of interstate I-80 I have always wondered if it was somebody passing through town.
It was March 23, 1986. His uncle says today, "There's no doubt in my mind, someone somewhere knows something by now." Ricky Chadek, 11 years old, was riding home from a friend's house when he stopped at a bank at 42nd and Valley. It was about five o'clock on a Sunday. His mother got worried when he didn't come home and after about 40 minutes, she went looking for him. No sign of Ricky. But she found his bike, with the kickstand down, parked by the dumpster. Sgt. Eric Sellers with the Douglas County Sheriff's Department says, "It was the first time he was allowed to ride his bike that distance and plans were made on the route for him to take to get home, he had to make a phone call to his mom so she would know when to expect him." Again, Ricky's uncle, Mike Chamberlin says, " We just need that guide. We need someone out there that knows that little tidbit of information that will lead to a possible arrest." After Ricky disappeared, thousands of missing posters were printed and put up all over town. A special law enforcement task force worked night and day to try to find Ricky and his kidnapper. A witness saw an older blue truck at the bank the same time as Ricky. And police released a composite sketch of a possible suspect. However, two decades later, cold case investigators wonder if they spent too much time searching for the blue truck, overlooking some other clue that may have been right in front of them. Back then, Ricky's mother even pleaded with her son's captor... but still nothing. She faced the camera and said, "Let my son go or let me know where he is. I'll come get him. He is only a little boy and has done you no harm. I love my son very much and I want him back. Please send Rick home." Eight long and sleepless days go by. Then the worst news possible for Ricky's family. On the morning of Monday March 31, 1986, a farmer found the boy's body in this grove of trees near 168th and Ida. Someone had choked Ricky to death. His uncle says, "He was a good kid, kind and gentle and never had any problems. He was being raised in a family household, a single parent and he was an absolute angel. He was very smart and she (Ricky's mother) was crushed." Now detectives were searching for a killer, who kept the boy alive somewhere in the area, all week. The autopsy showed Ricky had only been dead about 12 hours. Sgt. Sellers says during the week, "The suspect most likely took care of him to some extent. What do you mean took care of him? His clothes were clean, he appeared clean, signs he recently had a meal before his death." Cold case detectives today wonder if there was a religious connection. The killer took Ricky on Palm Sunday, held him during Holy Week and strangled him on Easter Sunday. Sgt. Sellers, "We don't know if there's significant value, there very well could be. Why was he taken that day or murdered on Easter." The Catholic family even held a vigil on Easter and set out Ricky's Easter basket on the church's altar. Police don't think Ricky's killer tortured him during that week in March. He had no signs of abuse, bruises or scratches. But his mother was and still is today... tortured with the anguish of not knowing, of wondering what happened to her only son. Theresa Chadek says, "My God it eats at you. Eight days, your child is missing and you don't know what happened." Theresa moved to another state several years after her boy's murder. She gave us a picture of herself today.. with Ricky's picture hanging on the wall in the background. 22 years later, there's still the pain and anguish of not knowing. The family wants answers. Mike Chamberlin, "I would only hope in some ways they would be wishing to clear their soul of what they've done once and for all." Theresa Chadek, "I just want him to stop and think. Stop and get it off your chest. You can ask for forgiveness and one day you may face God and if you've never asked for forgiveness, then God gets you and God help him, whoever he is." The bank put up a plaque on the bank's wall to remember Ricky. Cold case investigators say with today's new technology, it's very likely they could solve this 22 year old murder case. They just need someone to come forward with that piece of information. The tip line is 402.444-6000. This happened in a good area of town. Nobody would have ever thought this would happen around there. It is right off of interstate I-80 I have always wondered if it was somebody passing through town.
