Family of Jerica Hamre healing after body found months later

18 months after she was reported missing, Jerica Hamre's remains were found in rural central Nebraska. Her family says one non-profit kept search efforts going.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Jerica Hamre's family says that in the 18 months between their daughter's disappearance and when her body was found, the non-profit organization Bring Em Home Nebraska offered them hope and continued the search efforts. Jerica's remains were discovered in December 2025 in a rural area just miles from her family's home, after the group organized 17 searches covering over 1,200 square miles. Her parents, Craig and Lisa Hamre, say the organization's founder, Erik Rezabek, never gave up on finding Jerica, even when the searches turned up empty.

Why it matters

This story highlights the important role that non-profit organizations can play in supporting families of missing persons and keeping search efforts going, even in cases where the outcome is tragic. It also underscores the challenges families face in dealing with the uncertainty and emotional toll of a loved one's disappearance.

The details

Jerica Hamre was reported missing on July 3, 2024. In the 18 months that followed, the non-profit Bring Em Home Nebraska, founded by Erik Rezabek, organized 17 searches covering over 1,200 square miles in central Nebraska based on tips from Lincoln Police investigators. In December 2025, Jerica's remains were found in an old farm shed in rural Furnas County, just miles from her family's home. Her parents, Craig and Lisa Hamre, say Rezabek's unwavering commitment to the search gave them hope during the difficult months of uncertainty.

  • Jerica Hamre was reported missing on July 3, 2024.
  • In the 18 months after her disappearance, Bring Em Home Nebraska organized 17 searches.
  • Jerica's remains were found in December 2025 in rural Furnas County.

The players

Jerica Hamre

A missing woman whose remains were found 18 months after she was reported missing.

Craig and Lisa Hamre

Jerica Hamre's parents, who say the non-profit Bring Em Home Nebraska provided them hope and continued the search efforts for their daughter.

Erik Rezabek

The founder of the non-profit organization Bring Em Home Nebraska, which aided in the search for Jerica Hamre.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I kind of prepared myself for that, like maybe we'll never find her. And what am I going to do? Erik would always say, well, I'm not giving up. And that gave us hope, even when the search would turn up with nothing being found. We knew, 'OK, well, there's going to be another one.'”

— Lisa Hamre, Jerica Hamre's mother (ketv.com)

“There's no option to stop. I won't let myself. I always feel like somebody is pushing me to keep going.”

— Erik Rezabek, Founder of Bring Em Home Nebraska (ketv.com)

“I'm very confident that there's going to be justice in this case, just from some things that we know.”

— Erik Rezabek, Founder of Bring Em Home Nebraska (ketv.com)

What’s next

Lincoln Police are now investigating Jerica Hamre's death as a homicide and have identified a person of interest who is currently in prison on unrelated charges.

The takeaway

This tragic story highlights the important role that non-profit organizations can play in supporting families of missing persons and keeping search efforts going, even in cases where the outcome is ultimately heartbreaking. It also underscores the emotional toll that such situations can take on families, and the importance of having a strong support system during these difficult times.