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'I just feel that in my heart that he’s alive,' says father of Wisconsin boy missing since June

James Yoblonski's things, family van found at campsite near Devil's State Park

'I just feel that in my heart that he’s alive,' says father of Wisconsin boy missing since June

James Yoblonski's things, family van found at campsite near Devil's State Park

HOME. FOR EVERYONE WHO CARES ABOUT ME, IT’S NOT THEIR FAULT. IT’S NO ONE’S FAULT. IT’S MY FAULT. THESE WORDS ARE AMONG THE LAST BILL JABLONSKI HAS HEARD FROM HIS SON. I JUST CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHY HE DID THIS. SHARED IN A VIDEO ON SNAPCHAT SHORTLY AFTER THE 13 YEAR OLD WENT MISSING. I FEEL LIKE I WANT TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW. AND I’M SCARED AND I’M SAD. I HAVE NO EMOTIONS ANYMORE. I’VE LOST THEM. I I’M NOT PROCESSING ANYTHING. MY BRAIN IS SOMETHING HAPPENED TO IT. SOMETHING HAPPENED THE MORNING OF JUNE 12TH. THAT’S WHEN SHERIFF’S OFFICIALS SAY THEY GOT A REPORT THAT JAMES, WHO HAD JUST FINISHED SEVENTH GRADE, LEFT HIS REEDSBURG HOME IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IN HIS FATHER’S VAN. THEY FOUND THAT VAN SOME 25 MILES AWAY NEAR DEVIL’S LAKE STATE PARK AND NEARBY, A MAKESHIFT CAMPSITE WITH JAMES’S THINGS. THIS IS ALL THEY FOUND ON THE CAMPSITE. JAMES’S FATHER, BILL, SHARED PICTURES OF WHAT DETECTIVES SHARED WITH HIM. THREE PAIRS OF PANTS, THREE SHIRTS. IT’S HIS BACKPACK FROM SCHOOL. HIS PILLOW IS. IT’S A COMPASS. WERE YOU ACTUALLY ABLE TO SEE THE CAMPSITE THAT DAY? THEY WOULD NOT LET ME GO UP IN THERE. AUTHORITIES DID TAKE CANINES TO SEARCH THE AREA, BUT NO SIGN OF JAMES. THE DOGS NEVER HID ANYTHING. THAT TELLS ME SOMEBODY WENT IN THERE OR HE WENT IN THERE, SET THAT STUFF UP. IF IT WAS HIM, HE SET THAT STUFF UP, SAT DOWN ON THE GROUND AND WAITED FOR SOMEBODY TO HONK A HORN AND CAME BACK OUT THE SAME WAY. HE WENT IN AND GOT IN A CAR. AUTHORITIES SAY AN ANALYSIS OF ELECTRONICS SHOWS JAMES SEARCHED TRAVELING OUT OF STATE. THERE WAS A SUSPICION HE MAY BE LIVING OFF THE GRID AND AMONG THE THINGS MISSING FROM THE JABLONSKI HOME WERE SURVIVAL GUIDES AND ONE OF BILL JABLONSKI’S GUNS. IT’S A 380 SEMI-AUTOMATIC PISTOL. HE GOT MY ONE OF MY SAFES. I DON’T KNOW HOW HE GOT IN IT. HE DOES KNOW FOR A WHILE THE FOCUS WAS ON HIM. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU ARE A SUSPECT? I THINK EVERYBODY’S A SUSPECT UNTIL THEY FIND OUT DIFFERENTLY. THE FBI HELPED CONDUCT A POLYGRAPH, WHICH BILL JABLONSKI PASSED. SO WHEN THEY SAID TO YOU, DID YOU KILL YOUR SON, WHAT DID YOU SAY? NO, NO. THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY SON MISSING. AND WHAT’D YOU SAY? I SAID NO. BUT AS THE WEEKS DRAG ON, THE SUSPICION ONLINE GROWS, AS SOME OF THEM ARE JUST SAYING. MY FATHER KILLED HIM. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO PEOPLE WHO CONTEND THAT IT -- ME OFF? IT UPSETS ME BECAUSE I LOVE MY KIDS AND I’M DOING EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET HIM HOME. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. I DON’T KNOW HOW MORE HOW MUCH MORE I CAN PROVE TO EVERYBODY. I HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT. HIM MISSING. HE’S POSTED A $10,000 REWARD PUSH TO GET JAMES ON THE NATIONAL MISSING KIDS DATABASE ICE. AND HE WAITS. WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED? I THINK I THINK SOMEBODY COAXED HIM IN TO LEAVE. AND WHY WOULD THAT BE ATTRACTIVE TO HIM? I DON’T KNOW. I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HE WAS ON SNAPCHAT. SNAPCHAT, WHERE THIS VIDEO APPEARED SHOWING JUST THE DASH OF THE VAN AND WORDS. HE’S CONVINCED SOMEONE FORCED HIS SON TO SAY, I’M SORRY, PEOPLE, IF I CAN’T MAKE IT BELIEVABLE. RUSK SAYS JAMES WAS NOT SUICIDAL BUT IS INSTEAD BEING HELD AGAINST HIS WILL SOMEWHERE OUT OF STATE. YOU DO THINK HE’S STILL ALIVE? YES. WELL, DEFINITELY. WHY? I JUST FEEL THAT IN MY HEART THAT HE’S ALIVE. JAMES, WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH AND WE JUST WANT YOU HOME. YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO US. AND WE JUST WANT YOU HOME. THE SAUK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANYONE TO SPEAK ON CAMERA ABOUT THE CASE, BUT A DETECTIVE THERE DID TELL ME THERE HAVEN’T BEEN ANY SUBSTANTIAL TIPS FOR WEEKS. THEY MAY SEARCH THE WOODS AGAIN, PATRICK, AFTER MORE LEAVES FALL. WHAT ABOUT JAMES’S MOTHER? A LOT OF PEOPLE ASK ABOUT THAT. THE DETECTIVE TOLD ME THEY DID SPEAK WITH HER, BUT SHE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN HIS LIFE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERI
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'I just feel that in my heart that he’s alive,' says father of Wisconsin boy missing since June

James Yoblonski's things, family van found at campsite near Devil's State Park

It's a question that has perplexed investigators and his family for almost five months – where is James Yoblonski?The Sauk County teenager left his home in early June – and was last thought to be near Devil's Lake State Park. Officials suspected he may be living "off the grid."But now his father shares new information with WISN 12 News about what he thinks happened to his 13-year-old son.He starts by showing a video posted on Snapchat shortly after James went missing June 12. It shows the dashboard of the family's van, with James' voice saying: "For everyone who cares about me, it's not their fault. It's no one's fault. It's my fault.""I just can’t figure out why he did this," Bill Yoblonski told WISN 12 News' Joyce Garbaciak.The voice on the video continues: "I feel like I want to explain it. I don’t know how. I'm scared, and I’m sad, and I have no emotions anymore. I'm like, I’m not processing anything. My brain is – something happened to it."Something happened on the morning of June 12. That's when Sauk County sheriff's officials say Bill Yoblonski reported his son, James, missing. James, who had just finished seventh grade, reportedly left their Reedsburg home in the middle of the night in his father's van.Authorities found the van some 20 miles away on U.S. Highway 12 near Devil's Lake State Park. They also found a makeshift campsite – with James' things – nearby.Bill Yoblonski shared pictures of what investigators say they found at the campsite. "Three pairs of pants, three shirts, his backpack," Bill Yoblonski said. "Were you actually able to see the campsite that day?" Garbaciak asked."No," Yoblonski answered. "They would not let me go up there."Authorities did take K9s to search the area, but the dogs did not find James."The dogs never did hit on anything," Bill Yoblonski said. "And that tells me somebody, or he, went in there, set that stuff out, sat down on the ground and waited for somebody to honk a horn. He came back out the same way he went in – and got in a car."Authorities said an analysis of James' electronics shows he had searched while traveling out of state.While James' clothes were found, among the things still missing from the Yoblonski home after James left were survival guides and one of Bill Yoblonski's guns."It's a .380 semi-automatic pistol he got from one of my safes," Bill Yoblonski said. "I don’t know how he got in it."He does know for a while, the focus was on him."Why do you think you’re a suspect?" Garbaciak asked Yoblonski."I think everybody’s a suspect until they find out differently," Yoblonski said.The FBI helped Sauk County investigators conduct a polygraph, which Yoblonski passed."So when they said to you, 'Did you kill your son?' What did you say?" Garbaciak asked."No," Yoblonski answered. "They asked me if I had anything to do with my son missing. I said no."But as the weeks drag on and online theories swirl, the suspicion about Bill Yoblonski's involvement grows."Some of them are just saying the father killed him," Garbaciak said to Yoblonski. "What do you say to the people who say that?""It pisses me off," Yoblonski said. "It upsets me because I love my kids and I'm doing everything I can to get him home. I had nothing to do with it. I don’t know how or how much more I can prove to everybody I had nothing to do with him missing."Yoblonski has posted a $10,000 reward for the return of James. He pushed to get his son's information on the database of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And he waits."What do you think happened?” Garbaciak asked him."I think somebody coaxed him into leaving," Yoblonski said."Why would that be attractive to him?" Garbaciak asked."I don’t know," Yoblonski said. "I didn’t even know he was on Snapchat."Snapchat is where that dashboard video appeared – featuring words Bill Yoblonski is convinced his son was forced to say."I'm sorry, people," the voice says. "I can't make it. I'm sorry."Bill Yoblonski said his son wasn’t suicidal. He said he thinks his son is being held against his will somewhere out of state."Do you think he's alive?" Garbaciak asked. "Yes, most definitely," Yoblonski answered. "I just feel that in my heart that he’s alive."Yoblonski has a message for his son."James, we love you very much," he said. "We just want you home. You mean the world to us. We just want you home."The Sauk County Sheriff's Office would not provide anyone to speak on camera about the case.But Det. Sgt. Drew Bulin told WISN 12 News there haven’t been any substantial tips for the last several weeks.He said law enforcement might search the woods near where the campsite was found again after more leaves fall.He also said investigators did speak with James' mother. But said she wasn’t involved in his life for a significant period of time, and she didn't have any relevant information.Bill Yoblonski and his three other minor children continue to wait for news about James. He asks anyone with information to contact him at 920-292-0322 or at this email address: williamyoblonski@yahoo.com. People may also contact law enforcement by calling 608-355-3508 or 911.

It's a question that has perplexed investigators and his family for almost five months – where is James Yoblonski?

The Sauk County teenager left his home in early June – and was last thought to be near Devil's Lake State Park. Officials suspected he may be living "off the grid."

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But now his father shares new information with WISN 12 News about what he thinks happened to his 13-year-old son.

He starts by showing a video posted on Snapchat shortly after James went missing June 12. It shows the dashboard of the family's van, with James' voice saying: "For everyone who cares about me, it's not their fault. It's no one's fault. It's my fault."

"I just can’t figure out why he did this," Bill Yoblonski told WISN 12 News' Joyce Garbaciak.

The voice on the video continues: "I feel like I want to explain it. I don’t know how. I'm scared, and I’m sad, and I have no emotions anymore. I'm like, I’m not processing anything. My brain is – something happened to it."

Something happened on the morning of June 12. That's when Sauk County sheriff's officials say Bill Yoblonski reported his son, James, missing. James, who had just finished seventh grade, reportedly left their Reedsburg home in the middle of the night in his father's van.

Authorities found the van some 20 miles away on U.S. Highway 12 near Devil's Lake State Park. They also found a makeshift campsite – with James' things – nearby.

Bill Yoblonski shared pictures of what investigators say they found at the campsite.

"Three pairs of pants, three shirts, his backpack," Bill Yoblonski said.

"Were you actually able to see the campsite that day?" Garbaciak asked.

"No," Yoblonski answered. "They would not let me go up there."

Authorities did take K9s to search the area, but the dogs did not find James.

"The dogs never did hit on anything," Bill Yoblonski said. "And that tells me somebody, or he, went in there, set that stuff out, sat down on the ground and waited for somebody to honk a horn. He came back out the same way he went in – and got in a car."

Authorities said an analysis of James' electronics shows he had searched while traveling out of state.

While James' clothes were found, among the things still missing from the Yoblonski home after James left were survival guides and one of Bill Yoblonski's guns.

"It's a .380 semi-automatic pistol he got from one of my safes," Bill Yoblonski said. "I don’t know how he got in it."

He does know for a while, the focus was on him.

"Why do you think you’re a suspect?" Garbaciak asked Yoblonski.

"I think everybody’s a suspect until they find out differently," Yoblonski said.

The FBI helped Sauk County investigators conduct a polygraph, which Yoblonski passed.

"So when they said to you, 'Did you kill your son?' What did you say?" Garbaciak asked.

"No," Yoblonski answered. "They asked me if I had anything to do with my son missing. I said no."

But as the weeks drag on and online theories swirl, the suspicion about Bill Yoblonski's involvement grows.

"Some of them are just saying the father killed him," Garbaciak said to Yoblonski. "What do you say to the people who say that?"

"It pisses me off," Yoblonski said. "It upsets me because I love my kids and I'm doing everything I can to get him home. I had nothing to do with it. I don’t know how or how much more I can prove to everybody I had nothing to do with him missing."

Yoblonski has posted a $10,000 reward for the return of James. He pushed to get his son's information on the database of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And he waits.

"What do you think happened?” Garbaciak asked him.

"I think somebody coaxed him into leaving," Yoblonski said.

"Why would that be attractive to him?" Garbaciak asked.

"I don’t know," Yoblonski said. "I didn’t even know he was on Snapchat."

Snapchat is where that dashboard video appeared – featuring words Bill Yoblonski is convinced his son was forced to say.

"I'm sorry, people," the voice says. "I can't make it. I'm sorry."

Bill Yoblonski said his son wasn’t suicidal. He said he thinks his son is being held against his will somewhere out of state.

"Do you think he's alive?" Garbaciak asked.

"Yes, most definitely," Yoblonski answered. "I just feel that in my heart that he’s alive."

Yoblonski has a message for his son.

"James, we love you very much," he said. "We just want you home. You mean the world to us. We just want you home."

The Sauk County Sheriff's Office would not provide anyone to speak on camera about the case.

But Det. Sgt. Drew Bulin told WISN 12 News there haven’t been any substantial tips for the last several weeks.

He said law enforcement might search the woods near where the campsite was found again after more leaves fall.

He also said investigators did speak with James' mother. But said she wasn’t involved in his life for a significant period of time, and she didn't have any relevant information.

Bill Yoblonski and his three other minor children continue to wait for news about James. He asks anyone with information to contact him at 920-292-0322 or at this email address: williamyoblonski@yahoo.com.

People may also contact law enforcement by calling 608-355-3508 or 911.