The father of missing Wisconsin boy James Yoblonski says he thinks someone coerced his son to leave, as the search continues nearly two months later.
According to Fox News Digital, single dad William Yoblonski, who reported his 12-year-old son missing on June 12, said it’s unlike James to run away, adding that his son had never even driven a vehicle before vanishing.
“It’s not like him to do anything like this,” Yoblonski told Fox News Digital. “I mean, he’s never driven my vehicle on the streets or anything. He’s moved my van around my shop a couple times. That was it.”
As CrimeOnline previously reported, William said his son fled their Reedsville home in the family van, and is believed to have taken a gun with him. Within an hour of reporting him missing, police found the van near Devil’s Lake State Park. Investigators also found his cell phone, along with some articles of clothing.
James left the home at around midnight, William said, and then walked across the street to the van, and reportedly sat in the van for around an hour before vanishing. Investigators later found a search in James’ phone, asking “about being a minor on an airplane and crossing state lines.”
“I think he left with somebody. I think he sat there and waited for a horn to honk and came out and got in the car with somebody,” William said.
Williams added that his son may have met someone online, after he noticed that James posted a Snapchat message on his phone.
“‘I’m sorry. I don’t think I’ll be back for school. I don’t want to hurt anybody, but I might,'” William said, explaining what James posted on Snapchat.
Williams added that James made the video while sitting in the van and angled the video in a way that it appeared the phone was on the cup holder. William said that the cup holder, however, cannot hold cellphones.
“My cup holders in my van will not hold that cell phone,” William said. “Somebody else was with him holding their cell phone.”
Last week, Sauk County Sheriff’s Office’s Sgt. Drew Bulin told WiscNews that the FBI started conducting lie detector tests on potential witnesses and family members. William said he passed the test and is upset with law enforcement over lack of answers.
William is now offering a $10,000 reward for tips that lead to the return of his son.
“I just want my son back. That’s why I put up a $10,000 reward. If I could afford to go more than that … but I just don’t have that kind of money. Like I said, I’m a single father,” he said.
William said he has canceled vacations and camping trips to remain close to home, in the event that new tips come in. He added that he has been collaborating with a professional tracker to help in the search.
James is described as a white male who stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. He was last seen wearing a baseball cap, red shoes, a shirt, and blue jeans.
Anyone with information on Yablonski’s whereabouts is asked to call the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office at 608-355-4495.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: James Yoblonski/Sauk County Sheriff’s Office]
