A candlelight vigil is being held for Jake Wilson in La Porte City, exactly one month after the 16-year-old with autism disappeared.

The public is invited to attend the event at Wolf Creek Landing (intersection of Main and Tama streets) on Monday (May 7, 2018). Organizers are asking everyone to gather at 8 PM. The candle lighting will take place at 8:45 PM.

If there is rain, people will be directed to American Lutheran Church, 801 Monroe St., in La Porte City.

Pastor Nathan Clements from American Lutheran Church in La Porte City and Amanda Goodman, director of the Family and Children's Council of Black Hawk County, will be speaking at the vigil.

According to event organizers, there is limited parking at Wolf Creek Landing. Additional parking is available at Union High School or the city lot across from the La Porte City Fire Station.

In a press release, organizers said the vigil is not an acceptance that Wilson is gone. Instead, it's being held to show support for his family and friends, and as a reminder that the search and investigation into his disappearance is continuing.

The vigil's date and time will both mark one month since Wilson went missing. Jake was last seen on April 7 around 8:45 PM when he went for a walk near Wolf Creek -- just a few blocks from his home -- and never returned. According to Black Hawk County sheriff's officials, Wilson is about five-feet-six and 135 pounds. He was wearing a brown jacket, grey sweats and cowboy boots -- but not his glasses -- when he left home.

Over the four days following his disappearance, more than 2,100 volunteers joined in a massive effort to find Wilson. They searched about 255 square-miles of land in and around La Porte City before authorities scaled back the operation. Since then, professionals have focused on specific areas of Wolf Creek and the nearby Cedar River.

This past weekend, trained crews from law enforcement agencies and fire departments used heavy equipment to pull apart log jams in the creek. La Porte City Police Chief Chris Brecher said authorities continue to recheck the creek because the flow is constantly changing due to water levels that are currently rising and falling.

Anyone with information about Wilson's disappearance should call the La Porte City Police Department at 319-342-2232 or the Black Hawk County Communications Dispatcher at (319) 291-2515.


Courtesy: Google Maps
Courtesy: Google Maps
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