The Vanishing at Dawn

The chill of early September still lingered in Plattsmouth, Nebraska, when John Zarkowski slipped quietly from his home. It was 4:30 AM, the kind of hour reserved for secrets and sorrows. The 72-year-old Marine veteran, a fixture in his community and a familiar face at the Catfish Lake Restaurant, left behind his wallet, his phone, and—oddly—his shoes. He’d battled illness, mourned the loss of his wife, and carried scars both visible and unseen. But on this morning, John vanished.

For days, his family and friends scoured the town. Flyers appeared, prayers were whispered, and the Cass County Sheriff’s Office asked for help. John’s white Chevy Tahoe—his pride and lifeline—was gone too. As hope faded, a call was made to a unique team: **Adventures With Purpose**, a search and recovery dive squad whose mission is to bring closure to families facing the unthinkable.

What happened next would grip a community, stun investigators, and remind America of the silent battles too many veterans still fight.

**A Race Against Time: Inside the Search**

When John disappeared, the clues were few and puzzling. Surveillance cameras caught nothing unusual. His medical wound vac was left behind, hinting at pain. Family members described him as meticulous, never the type to leave things out of order. But this time, his pants and shoes were neatly placed by the bed—as if he’d planned his exit in silence.

The first hours were frantic. Jennifer Sahlberg, a relative, reached out to Adventures With Purpose late at night. The team—led by Jared Leisek—was already working cold cases in Omaha and Council Bluffs. But John’s case was fresh, urgent, and close to home. By morning, they were on the road to Plattsmouth.

Their strategy was methodical: start with places John loved, especially the Catfish Lake Restaurant and Hallworth Park, where family reunions had been held. The Missouri River, with its strong currents and hidden depths, loomed as a possibility. The team consulted with detectives, scoured surveillance footage, and mapped out every body of water within a few miles of John’s home.

The search was grueling. Sonar boats swept the river, magnets were dropped, and divers braved treacherous currents. Each possible location was checked, ruled out, or marked for further investigation. The team’s expertise was clear—they’d solved ten cold cases in the past year, and their reputation for compassion and determination preceded them.

But as the hours passed, frustration mounted. Quarries were fenced off, ponds were too shallow, and private lakes had no access. The Missouri’s current was brutal, making diving dangerous and detection difficult. Still, the team pressed on, driven by the knowledge that every hour mattered for John’s family.

**Piecing Together the Puzzle**

The investigation revealed a heartbreaking truth: John had spoken before about not wanting to be a burden if his health failed. He’d lost his wife six years earlier and lived with chronic pain. The clues—no wallet, no shoes, no phone—suggested he hadn’t planned to go far, and hadn’t expected to return.

OnStar, the Chevy’s emergency system, was silent. If the SUV was underwater, the signal would be lost. The team’s experience told them: either John was in a remote area, or he was beneath the surface.

They searched the Missouri River boat ramp, Hallworth Park, and the old Catfish Lake Restaurant—each a place John knew well. The river’s current was unforgiving, but the team’s sonar picked up anomalies: logs, rocks, and at one point, an old Volkswagen, long forgotten and irrelevant to the case.

Twelve hours passed. The team was exhausted, but hope remained. They returned to the area near John’s house, narrowing the search to a five-mile radius. “Any step forward is one step closer,” Jared reminded the family. The emotional toll was heavy, but the mission was clear: find John, bring him home, and offer the answers his loved ones desperately needed.

**The Moment of Truth: A Heartbreaking Discovery**

As dusk fell on Plattsmouth, the team decided to check one last spot—a stretch of the Missouri River near the original boat ramp, just ten feet from where they’d begun that morning. The sonar lit up: a large, upside-down object, fresher than anything they’d seen all day.

Jared and Doug prepared for a final dive. The current was fierce, visibility low, but determination pushed them forward. Using magnets and guide lines, they locked onto the target and descended into the murky depths.

The discovery was immediate and gut-wrenching. A white SUV, upside-down, wheels facing skyward, lodged in the riverbed. The back window was shattered, the cabin filled with silt and sediment. Jared, fighting the current and darkness, reached inside and—by touch alone—found half of a Nebraska license plate.

“20-T188,” he called out, confirming what everyone feared and hoped for: it was John’s vehicle.

The emotional wave crashed over the team and the family waiting on shore. Tears flowed, hands shook, and the reality set in. John had been found, just feet from where the search began, after a day spent scouring every possible location.

The next morning, the recovery operation was delicate and respectful. Divers rigged the SUV for extraction, careful not to disturb John’s remains. The fire department, tow crews, and family gathered in solemn silence. As the vehicle broke the surface, a chapter closed—and another began.

**Closure, Community, and the Unseen Battles**

John Zarkowski’s story is one of heartbreak, resilience, and the power of community. His disappearance shook Plattsmouth, but it also rallied neighbors, family, and strangers to action. Adventures With Purpose brought expertise and empathy, turning a tragedy into a mission of hope.

For John’s family, the answers were bittersweet. Relief mingled with grief. They could finally lay him to rest, honor his service, and begin to heal. The recovery marked the eleventh solved case for the dive team—a testament to the impact of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

But the story resonates far beyond Nebraska. John’s struggle is shared by thousands of veterans across America—men and women who fought for freedom but sometimes find themselves alone, battling invisible wounds. The team’s closing message was clear: “If you know a veteran, embrace them. Be there for them. Let them know they’re not alone.”

As the sun set on Plattsmouth, the community mourned, remembered, and came together. John Zarkowski was lost, but not forgotten. His final journey brought answers, love, and a reminder that even in darkness, hope can be found—sometimes just ten feet from where you started.