WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — As Wisconsin’s new Missing Child Alert system expands the criteria for sending mass alerts for missing children, a Sauk County father expressed his wish that the system had been available when his own son, James Yoblonski, went missing more than a year ago.
Bill Yoblonski’s 13-year-old son, James Yoblonski, went missing from their Reedsburg home last summer.
James Yoblonski did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert at the time of his disappearance. Yet his dad remains hopeful that the new alert system will save other children who would not meet the Amber Alert criteria.
“I’m sure it’ll help, but they should have done something different when James went missing,” Bill Yoblonski said.
The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the investigation into James Yoblonski’s disappearance is ongoing. While detectives do not believe there is any criminal activity involved, they have not ruled out the possibility.
The Missing Child Alert system is seen as a potential game changer for families whose missing children do not qualify for an Amber Alert.
The system offers new “person at risk” classifications, designed to increase the chances of finding missing children like James Yoblonski.
For the Yoblonski family, the past year has been marked by heartbreak and uncertainty. A poster collage of James Yoblonski hangs in their home, a constant reminder of their loved one who remains missing.
The family, including James Yoblonski’s younger sister, Nastisia, continues to struggle with his absence.
“I just want him home,” Bill Yoblonski said, echoing the sentiments of the entire family.
Surveillance footage captured James Yoblonski driving away from his home in his father’s van, carrying two duffle bags.
The vehicle was later found abandoned near Devil’s Lake State Park, along with Bill Yoblonski’s cellphone. Despite extensive searches, there have been no new leads.
Bill Yoblonski suspects his son may have been trafficked and has placed James Yoblonski on the National Missing and Exploited Persons list.
He urged the public to remember all the missing children in Wisconsin.
“I just want people to understand. James is missing, but what about all the other kids that are missing in this state? Just in Wisconsin alone, the last time I counted was over 45,” he said.
Despite their gratitude for the new alert system, the Yoblonski family continues to wait and worry, hoping for any news that might lead to James Yoblonski’s return.
“Something needs to be done and done now, not a year from now, not two years from now. It needs to be done now,” Bill Yoblonski said.
The family’s pain serves as a reminder of the importance of these alert systems in helping to locate missing children before it’s too late.
For more information about James Yoblonski’s disappearance and details on the $10,000 reward being offered, click here.