Ryan D. Larsen Missing La Vista, NE – Endangered Missing

Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of 11-year-old Ryan D. Larsen, who was last seen on May 17, 2021, in La Vista. Ryan, a sixth-grader at La Vista West Elementary School, has high-functioning autism, Tourette’s syndrome, and epilepsy. He was missing critical medication at the time of his disappearance.

On the day he went missing, Ryan became frustrated while working on a math problem and followed his routine by going to another room to calm down. A lapse in supervision occurred between 11:55 a.m. and 12:05 p.m., allowing him to leave the school campus unnoticed. His mother was notified at 12:27 p.m., and officers from the La Vista Police Department arrived promptly to begin a search.

At approximately 1:45 p.m., Ryan was spotted near the Southfield Apartments, just two blocks from his home. He was carrying a polka-dotted umbrella but could not access his apartment. Despite extensive searches, Ryan has never been seen again. Weeks later, his umbrella was recovered near a dumpster behind the apartment complex.

Ryan had a history of running and hiding, earning him the nickname “the king of hide-and-seek.” He had previously participated in Project Lifesaver but did not consistently wear the tracking device. Investigators also noted his prior online searches on how to hide from authorities.

Ryan was last seen wearing a black and gray zippered hooded sweatshirt with orange lining, an Old Navy shirt, blue jeans, and black New Balance sneakers with red trim. He is white, with brown hair, hazel eyes, 5’8” tall, and weighed 125 pounds at the time.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the La Vista Police Department at (402) 331-1582, referencing case #21-4845. His case remains classified as endangered missing and is listed in NamUs as #MP82527.