NE NE - Ryan Larsen, 11, with autism, La Vista, 17 May 2021

[Unalienable Rights]

Nearly 3 years later, Nebraska family of 11-year-old boy not giving up on their search for answers about his disappearance

11-year-old Ryan Larsen walked out of his elementary school in La Vista, Nebraska on May 17, 2021. Ryan is on the Autism spectrum and his family asks anyone with information to come forward.

www.nbcnews.com

Dateline -- April 2, 2024

 

[elframo]

Passed the 3 year mark since Ryan's disappearance.

 

[Seattle1]

Passed the 3 year mark since Ryan's disappearance.

Ryan vanished less than two weeks before a neighboring Iowan, Xavior Harrelson, age 11, vanished from the home he shared with his mother.

Fortunately, months later, Xavior's body was located in a soybean field-- not too distant from his home. While we don't Xavior's cause of death (not released by investigators), we do know his death was ruled a homicide.

Sadly, three years later, no suspects or POI have been named, and we are still waiting both answers and justice for these lovely, young boys.

#Godspeed Ryan, where ever you are.

 

[mlhenn]

Ryan D. Larsen – The Charley Project

Last updated May 22, 2024; details of disappearance updated.

Details of Disappearance​

Ryan was last seen in La Vista, Nebraska on May 17, 2021. He was a sixth-grader at La Vista West Elementary School. After becoming frustrated with a math problem, Ryan went to another room to be by himself and calm down.

…

In early 2023, Ryan's mother, Tammi Larsen, petitioned the court to have him declared legally dead, arguing it was unlikely he was still alive due to his autism and other medical issues. She stated she intended to file a claim against the Papillion-La Vista Public School District for Ryan's wrongful death. However, in April of that year a judge threw out her petition to declare him dead, saying there wasn't enough evidence to conclude Ryan was deceased.

Instead of suing the school district for his wrongful death, Tammi sued them for violating her son's civil rights. The lawsuit was filed in federal court, and in November 2023 it was dismissed; the judge said the complaint "does not allege an unconstitutional policy of the school district." Tammi then sued the school district in state court, for negligent supervision of Ryan and negligent infliction of emotional distress on herself during and after Ryan's disapearance.

In its defense, the school district's attorneys argued that the school had followed Ryan's Individualized Educational Program (IEP), which did not require him to be constantly supervised and which did allow him to leave the school, that "the mere disappearance isn’t enough to meet damages" and that claims that Ryan was dead or severely injured were speculative. In May 2024, Tammi's state lawsuit was also dismissed.

Under Nebraska state law, a person is presumed dead if they have been missing without explanation for five years. If Ryan is not found by May 2026, his mother can have him declared dead at that time.