Nebraska
A new search is set for a Nebraska woman who went missing over a year ago; her parents speak out
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A renewed search is planned this weekend for Jerica Hamre, the Nebraska mother who vanished a little over a year ago.
Revealed information about where her cell phone pinged the night she went missing, and a private investigation is bringing volunteers back to the Arapahoe area.
It’s the first organized search since last October, and it’s being led by the private investigator of “Bring ‘em Home Nebraska.”
That investigator said he believes he knows who is responsible for Jerica’s disappearance – but the police have yet to name a suspect, leaving everyone searching for any evidence they can.
As for Jerica’s parents, the pain is immense—but so is their faith, they say, that keeps them moving forward.
“Lord, I trust you, you know where she is– and if you so desire to reveal that– I will be patient and wait,” said Lisa Hamre, Jerica’s mother. “And if you choose to never allow us to know where she is, I choose to be okay with that too.”
A mother’s prayer.
Said with a heart full of faith that Saturday, July 12, will bring them a step closer to answers about their daughter.
“Her phone was out in the same area the night she disappeared,” said Erik Rezabek.
Private investigator Erik Rezabek with Bring ‘em Home Nebraska said that information shared by the Lincoln police department prompted the re-search of the nearly 900 square mile area of brush and trees.
“We absolutely believe that somebody knows what happened,” said Craig Hamre, Jerica’s father. “And possibly even multiple individuals.”
Jerica’s parents are now raising Jerica’s daughters, who they say remind them so much of the little girl they raised years ago.
“I think it would be a lot more difficult if we didn’t have little glimpses of Jerica every day in her daughters,” Craig said. “Obviously, it’s not easy, but it’s made it a lot easier to deal with.”
Still, Craig and Lisa Hamre say they are leaning on their faith and the support from the community.
“Law enforcement is pulled in so many different directions,” Craig explained. “Sometimes it seems like they’re not doing enough– but there’s so much on their platter– so an organization like Bring ‘em Home Nebraska has been a huge encouragement to us.”
“We don’t feel forgotten because of their efforts,” Lisa added.
The search begins at 9 a.m. this Saturday at Arapahoe City Park. Volunteers are encouraged to RSVP by emailing Bring ’em Home Nebraska.
You can find that email by clicking here.
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Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — The Nebraska Court of Appeals has affirmed the conviction and sentencing of a Grand Island man charged with sexually assaulting a minor.
Cory Gilmore was sentenced in June to 36 to 48 years in prison on two counts of first-degree sexual assault. Court records said he was initially charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child, first-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault of a child, but pleaded no contest to the two sexual assault counts as part of a plea deal.
According to an arrest affidavit, a report of a possible sexual assault came into the child abuse hotline that Gilmore sexually assaulted a minor girl when he was intoxicated.
A Grand Island police officer later interviewed the girl – who is younger than 19 years old – who said she was sexually assaulted by Gilmore from early 2021 to December 2023.
In his appeal, Gilmore claimed the District Court abused its discretion by imposing an excessive sentence. He also claimed his trial counsel was ineffective in failing to take the deposition of the alleged victim and failing to move to withdraw Gilmore’s plea before sentencing.
In its ruling, the Court of Appeals denied Gilmore’s claim of ineffective trial counsel. In his appeal, Gilmore said that at sentencing, he notified his counsel that he wished to withdraw his no-contest plea as he didn’t want to plead guilty or to say he did something he didn’t do.
The Court of Appeals said that at no point did Gilmore inform the District Court that he wished to withdraw his plea and that the District Court asked him if he made his plea “knowingly and voluntarily.”
The Court of Appeals also said in its order that at Gilmore’s sentencing hearing, the District Court looked at Gilmore’s risk to reoffend, his criminal history and the fact that he “showed no remorse for the trauma he has inflicted” in imposing its sentencing. The Court of Appeals said this was appropriate and that his sentencing was not excessive.
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has collected more than $200,000 from gambling winnings to go toward child support arrears just three months after implementing the program.
The Gambling Winnings Setoff for Outstanding Debt Act was approved through the passage of Legislative Bill 1317 and signed by Gov. Jim Pillen in 2024.
“This program ensures funds are being used to help support kids across Nebraska,” said Gov. Pillen. “Parents have an obligation to their children, and we’re guaranteeing their well-being by collecting these winnings.”
The collections began Sept. 2, 2025. The act requires gaming operators to withhold a portion of winnings from individuals who have an unpaid debt with the state and remit the funds to the Department of Revenue.
From there, the collected funds are distributed to various agencies, including DOR, Department of Labor, Department of Motor Vehicles, and DHHS.
Within the first 13 weeks, $529,091.47 was dispersed to these agencies, with DHHS receiving $215,852.98 for the Child Support Enforcement Program.
“By administering these dollars directly to families, the Child Support Enforcement Program is setting our state’s children up for success,” said Shannon Grotrian, director of the Office of Economic Assistance. “It’s making an immediate impact on their livelihoods and making sure they have what they need to grow and thrive.”
For more information on Nebraska’s Child Support Program, visit the DHHS website.
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Copyright 2025 KOLN. All rights reserved.
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