Judge won't rule missing boy dead

A legal setback today for the mother of a missing 11-year-old boy with autism, who was looking to sue the school district over her son’s disappearance.

A Sarpy County judge refusing to declare Ryan Larsen of La Vista dead, prior to the five years required by Nebraska law.

According to the judge the testimony of Ryan’s mom, Tammi Larsen along with news articles come up short of the evidence needed to make the case that Ryan, who was last seen May 17, 2021, “probably died before the passage of five years.”

Following a February hearing Larsen’s lawyer, said the clock was ticking on a lawsuit against Papillion-LaVista schools.

“Tammy Larson and the whole Larson family needs closure," said Sean Conway.

"Almost two years ago the Papillion- La Vista school district allowed Ryan Larson who is an 11-year-old special needs boy, who has a propensity to wander, to simply walk out of the front doors of his elementary school in the middle of the school day. The Larson family needs closure, and they need to hold the people accountable that are responsible for Ryan's disappearance and him walking from that school.”

The Omaha World-Herald reports that despite the ruling Tammi Larsen will continue her plan to hold the school district accountable.

From day one Papillion-La Vista has said it will support the Larsen family.