Authorities cast net to other Iowa cities in search of Kazmerzak

With no new leads in the search for missing Hampton man Ethan Kazmerzak as of 8:54 p.m. Monday, Franklin County law enforcment officlals have launched a statewide call for help.

Cory Eberling, public information office for the Franklin County Emergency Operations Center, said that as of 7 p.m. the local search would be scaled down due to nightfall and that authorities would continue to follow up any possible leads for clues to the location of Kazmerzak. 

Eberling also said that authorities have sent out information about Kazmerzak to police and other agencies in various cities throughout the state where Kazmerzak has lived, has friends in, or frequented in the past. Eberling said authorities in two cities in particular - Iowa City, where Kazmerzak went to college, and Mason City, where he has friends - were notified that he is missing and to be on the look-out for him or his vehicle - a silver 2006 Volkswagen Jetta with an Iowa license plate of AUZ 382.

Kazmerzak, 22, was last seen around 12 a.m. Sunday, however Hampton police Chief Bob Schaefer said that he did receive information that Kazmerzak may have been at a party in rural Hampton around 4 a.m. Sunday. Kazmerzak was also seen socializing with three women at Pit Row - a downtown sports pub - on Saturday evening during the Iowa-Iowa State football game. 

A familiar face in Hampton and an actor in the summertime play "Harvey" at the Windsor Theater, Kazmerzak was described by authorities as about 5-foot, 5-inches tall, 185 pounds, with blond hair, and a reddish-colored beard. He was last seen in a teal or white printed shirt and wearing orange or peach-colored shorts. 

Anyone with information about Kazmerzak's location or who sees him or his vehicle should call the Hampton Police Department at (641) 456-2529. Police have asked anyone who may recognize Kazmerzak or encounter him to not take action themselves and to contact authorities immediately.