List of Ames and Story County Missing Persons (UPDATED)

The Iowa Department of Public Safety keeps a database of missing persons throughout Iowa, children and adults alike, going back to 1973. The web site is updated four times each day.

The database lists five people from Ames, but includes six people -- ranging from age 15 to 67 -- as missing from Story County. All missing girls on this list are considered runaways. 

The Iowa Missing Person Hotline is available seven days a week to request assistance locating a missing person and report information on the sighting/location of a missing person.

The 24-hour, toll-free hotline is 800-346-5507.

Reported missing from Story County (age listed is current):

Blaze Strickland, age 18. Reported missing to the Ames Police Department (515-239-5133), in Ames on May 3, 2012. She was last seen wearing black skinny jeans, a black t-shirt and a gray hoodie. Her hair is reddish brown and may be in a ponytail. She was reported missing by the Youth and Shelter Services.

Jessica Swan, age 16. Reported missing to the Ames Police Department (515-239-5133), in Ames on June 7, 2012. She was last seen wearing a black Oskaloosa Dance Team shirt with Jessica on the back and white athletic shorts. She was reported missing by Youth and Shelter Services. Ames Police Commander Jim Robinson said that Swan was also reported missing June 6 and found later that same day.

Lizeth Ordaz-Gonzalez, age 15. Reported missing to the Story County Sheriff's Office (515-382-6566), in Nevada on July 24, 2012. She has a tattoo on her right forearm and on her abdomen. She has a pierced lower lip and a pierced abdomen. Nevada Police Chief Rick Martinez said this girl is believed to be living in California and has had some communication with her mother in Nevada.

Ronald Westwick, age 67. Reported missing to the Ames Police Department (515-239-5133), in Ames on March 12, 1979.

In 1979 this 34-year-old Ellsworth man, who lived with his parents, drove to Ames and visited some establishments.

What happened after that is anyone's guess.

Elmer and Ruth Westwick, now deceased, found Ron Westwick's car in the 500 block of Fifth Street with a number of parking tickets on his car, according to Ruth's former power of attorney Gina Spohnheimer and church pastor.

He was last seen on March 12, 1979.

Less than two months later, officers entered him into the nationwide law enforcement computer to try to locate him because the man hadn't used his checking account. He reportedly had a medical condition that required medication, according to an article that was published in the Ames Tribune that same year. Spohnheimer said she was told he had epilepsy.

Today the man is still listed as endangered missing.

Local and county officials said it's rare to ever have a missing persons case in which the person disappeared involuntarily. 

New Reports

Jonathan Cox, age 16. Reported missing to the Ames Police Department (515-239-5133), in Ames on September 1, 2012. He was last seen at about 11:10 p.m. wearing a black/gray t-shirt and blue jeans.

Tylar Stephens, age 17. Reported missing to the Ames Police Department (515-239-5133), in Ames on August 31, 2012. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants with red stripes.

Accompanying this story is a poster drawn by “Megan T.” a student from Prairie City Elementary School. Here is her explanation of her creation:

My poster was a pleasure for me to draw. I made the United States along with Mexico and Canada. All the vehicles and people are supposed to be on their way home. Children are coming home by air, land, sea or whatever other ways they can get there. There is a party in the picture about a kid coming home. All the kids are very happy to get home and see their families. ~ Megan T. from Prairie City Elementary School.