After Seven Long Years, the Mystery of Missing Iowa Man Ethan Kazmerzak Finally Comes to Light

For seven long years, the quiet town of Hampton, Iowa, lived under the shadow of one name — Ethan Kazmerzak.

The 22-year-old college graduate vanished without a trace in September 2013, leaving behind a mystery that gripped the community, baffled investigators, and broke the hearts of everyone who knew him.

What began as a missing person report soon evolved into one of Iowa’s most haunting cold cases — until a chance discovery in 2020 finally revealed the truth hidden beneath the surface of a dark, rural pond.

Ethan Kazmerzak was known as bright, friendly, and deeply loyal — a young man with a passion for music, adventure, and late-night drives through the countryside.

On the night of September 15, 2013, Ethan attended a local gathering with friends in Franklin County.

Several witnesses confirmed he was in good spirits, laughing and chatting before heading home sometime after midnight.

But he never arrived.

The next morning, his parents, Nancy and Gene Kazmerzak, noticed his car missing and his phone going straight to voicemail.

Panic set in almost immediately.

Within hours, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office began an extensive search effort — using helicopters, search dogs, and dive teams.

But days turned to weeks, and then years, with no sign of Ethan or his silver 2006 Volkswagen Jetta.

As time passed, theories swirled around the disappearance.

Some believed he had accidentally driven into water on one of the unlit rural roads.

Others whispered of foul play, though no evidence supported that theory.

His friends maintained that Ethan was not the type to vanish intentionally.

“He was steady, dependable,” one friend recalled.

“If he needed space, he’d say so.

He wouldn’t just disappear.”

In 2014, Ethan’s parents offered a $100,000 reward for any information leading to their son’s location, hoping to draw out new leads.

“We just want to bring him home,” his mother said tearfully during a press conference.

But despite tips, rumors, and countless hours of volunteer searches, nothing turned up.

It was as though the earth itself had swallowed Ethan whole.

Years passed.

The case grew colder, and media attention faded.

Yet the Kazmerzaks never gave up.

They held vigils every September, posting updates on social media and keeping Ethan’s memory alive.

Then, in the fall of 2020, a group of volunteer divers from Adventures With Purpose — a YouTube-based search and recovery team specializing in underwater searches — decided to reexamine the area where Ethan had last been seen.

Using state-of-the-art sonar equipment, they scanned a small, murky pond northwest of Hampton — a body of water that had been checked multiple times in the early years of the investigation but never fully cleared due to poor visibility.

Within minutes, the sonar revealed something that froze everyone in place — the faint, unmistakable outline of a submerged vehicle.

As the divers descended into the dark, silty water, their cameras captured what had been hidden for seven years: the silver Jetta, coated in mud and algae.

When the license plate was confirmed — EYZ 642 — there was no more doubt.

Ethan had been found.

The recovery operation took hours, with local law enforcement and rescue teams working side by side.

When the car was finally pulled from the water, human remains were discovered inside.

DNA testing later confirmed what the town had long feared — the remains belonged to Ethan Kazmerzak.

The news hit the community with a mix of grief and relief.

For Ethan’s family, it was the closure they had begged for but never truly expected.

“We prayed for answers,” Nancy said softly at a small memorial service.

“Now we have them.

It doesn’t take away the pain, but at least we can bring him home.”

Investigators concluded that Ethan’s death was accidental.

Based on evidence from the scene, it appeared he had missed a curve in the dark and driven into the pond, which was deeper than it looked.

Alcohol was suspected to be a factor, though toxicology results were inconclusive due to the length of time underwater.

The discovery of Ethan’s car reignited conversations about rural safety, mental health, and the incredible power of community persistence.

Local residents praised the divers of Adventures With Purpose, calling them “heroes of compassion.

” One of the divers, Jared Leisek, reflected, “We’re not just finding cars — we’re finding people.

We’re giving families answers.

That’s what matters.”

In the years since Ethan’s recovery, his story has resonated far beyond Iowa.

Online forums, documentaries, and podcasts have highlighted his case as a testament to the enduring power of hope — and the importance of never giving up on the missing.

Today, a small memorial stands near the pond where he was found, marked by flowers, photographs, and a simple sign reading:
“In Loving Memory of Ethan Kazmerzak — Gone But Never Forgotten. ”

Each year, on the anniversary of his disappearance, locals gather there to light candles and play Ethan’s favorite songs — a bittersweet reminder of a young life cut short, and a mystery that, for seven long years, refused to fade.

Ethan’s mother still visits the site every week.

She says it’s no longer a place of sadness, but of peace.

“I used to ask why,” she said quietly.

“Now I just say thank you — because we finally found our boy.”