Dozens gather at State Capitol Building for second annual Nebraska Missing Person’s Day

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Nebraska is leading the United States in the movement to remember those missing and bring life to cases gone cold.

Nebraska is one of only one of two states to host a missing person’s day.

Dozens gathered at the state capitol on Friday to honor the second annual day of remembrance.

The crowd was made up of law makers, law enforcement and loved ones of Nebraskans who have gone missing.

“It’s a family that we didn’t ask to be in, but its a very supportive family,” said Christina and Eddie Lupin. “It’s our therapy because they know what I’m going through where nobody else does.”

Chris, the son of Christina and Eddie Lupin, went missing on November 17, 2019, from a campground in Elm Creek, Nebraska.

He was the father of three young daughters, who only have pictures to remember him.

“They have questions. We have no answers to give them, we have no answers to give anybody,” said Christina.

She says the lack of details makes it all the more difficult not only for them, but also for the police department as well.

Cpt. Ben Miller with Crime Investigations at the Lincoln Police Department says even the smallest details help create a lead or even solve a case.

“It could be a phone number that somebody provides that they’re looking for, could be basic information like ‘we saw a black car driving’ or whatever it might be, and that maybe the only piece of information that’s missing,” said Miller.

Details can be submitted in many ways, such as to Crime Stoppers or to any police department.

The Lupins say they speak with the Kearny Police Department regularly, and feels they are keeping their son’s case alive, but having a missing person’s day is doing that on a much larger scale.

“It’s not just a search for Chris, it’s a search for every missing person in Nebraska and all the other states,” said Christina.

Janell Rap founded the missing persons foundation, “411 Gina” after her sister Regina “Gina” Bos disappeared on October 17, 2000.

Rap has been instrumental in getting the Nebraska Missing Person’s Day implemented.

Rap also credits Sen. Danielle Conrad for making it happen.

Conrad spoke at the gathering and said this day is an example of how different parties can come together for the good of the community.