Overview

Date last seen: May 17, 2021
Location last seen: La Vista West Elementary School and later near the Southfield Apartments in La Vista, Nebraska

Main points:

The investigation remains active, and authorities continue to ask the public for information.

Ryan Larsen, an 11-year-old boy with autism, walked away from school during the school day.

Surveillance later placed him near the apartment complex where he lived.

Despite extensive searches by local, state, and federal agencies, Ryan has never been found.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Ryan Larsen Case: Five Years Later, the Search for the Missing Nebraska Boy Continues

Quick Summary

Date last seen: May 17, 2021
Location last seen: La Vista West Elementary School and later near the Southfield Apartments in La Vista, Nebraska

Main points:

1. Ryan Larsen, an 11-year-old boy with autism, walked away from school during the school day.
2. Surveillance later placed him near the apartment complex where he lived.
3. Despite extensive searches by local, state, and federal agencies, Ryan has never been found.
4. The investigation remains active, and authorities continue to ask the public for information.

Ryan Larsen Case Overview

Ryan Larsen disappeared on May 17, 2021, after leaving La Vista West Elementary School in La Vista, Nebraska. The then-11-year-old had autism spectrum disorder and a documented history of wandering from supervised settings, making his disappearance especially concerning from the moment he left school.

Investigators determined that Ryan left the school between approximately 11:55 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. after becoming frustrated during class. School staff quickly realized he was missing, notified his mother, and contacted police shortly afterward. Officers immediately began searching the surrounding area while volunteers, K-9 teams, drones, dive teams, and the FBI joined the effort over the following days.

Surveillance footage later showed Ryan walking through the Southfield Apartments, where he lived with his family. This remains the last confirmed indication of his whereabouts. Investigators believe he reached the apartment complex but have never determined where he went afterward.

Over the weeks that followed, authorities searched nearby parks, wooded areas, drainage systems, lakes, ponds, and Walnut Creek. Specialized search teams repeatedly examined areas Ryan had visited in the past, but no trace of him was located. The investigation eventually expanded beyond Nebraska with assistance from federal agencies and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

One of the few significant pieces of physical evidence emerged when an umbrella belonging to Ryan was recovered near the apartment complex. DNA testing later confirmed the umbrella belonged to him, indicating it had returned to the apartment complex after he left school. Investigators have said the finding helped establish part of Ryan’s movements but did not explain what happened after that point.

Latest Investigation Information

As of 2026, Ryan Larsen remains missing and the investigation remains open. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information—even information that may have seemed insignificant at the time—to contact investigators. Ryan would now be a teenager.

In addition to the criminal investigation, the disappearance led to civil litigation involving the Papillion-La Vista School District. Ryan’s mother alleged the district failed to properly supervise her son after prior incidents in which he had left school. In 2025, the Nebraska Supreme Court revived the lawsuit after it had previously been dismissed, allowing the legal case to proceed. The civil proceedings are separate from the ongoing missing person investigation.

Despite years of investigation, authorities have not publicly identified a suspect or announced evidence confirming foul play. Ryan’s disappearance remains classified as an active missing child investigation.

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Facebook Post:

As of July 14@3, 2026 Law Enforcement Officials have never been able to recover his remains and he remains missing please don’t let him be forgotten #HisLifeMatters

Ryan Larsen was dropped off at La Vista West Elementary School on May 17th, 2021. Sadly, that was the last time his mother, Tammi, would see him, give him a hug, and tell him how much she loved him. It was roughly around 12:30 that Tammi received a call that would change her life forever. Within just minutes, she was told Ryan had walked out of the school and they was not sure where he went and she needed to come to the school. Part of the health issues that Ryan is on the Autism Spectrum and also has Epilepsy and Tourette’s. Though out the years Law Enforcement Officials have searched in different areas and has never found any evidence to explain where Ryan actually is. There was different instances when Ryan did walk away, but always came back rather quickly. According to Law Enforcement Officials there is no evidence that tells them that Ryan was abducted they still follow up on tips and social media leads.