The search for a missing Blair man continues.
A Endangered Missing Adivsory was issued for Ryan Lemaster, 33 of Blair. Lemaster was reported missing on the evening of Oct. 3 and the advisory was issued at 3:30 a.m. Oct. 4. He was last seen at his home at 33 Longview Dr. in Blair at 7 a.m. on Oct. 3.
He is approximately 5’ 9" tall, approximately 120 pounds, with brown hair curly hair, short beard, and blue eyes, and wearing a brown shirt with TNA sports / tackle logo and brown slacks.
Lemaster's mother, Melanie Miller, said Ryan suffers from severe epilepsy and often enters a “twilight” stage following seizures. He had a seizure Sunday evening.
“He gets in a sleepwalking phase where he's not really alert yet he's walking around and doing things,” she said.
Miller said she checked on Lemaster, who lives with her, the following morning at 7 a.m. and he was still in bed. When she came home from work Monday, Lemaster did not greet her in the driveway as he normally does. She said he often goes out for walks during the day but when he didn't return home later at night, she contacted the police and the hospital to see if a patient matching his description had been brought in. An interview with Blair police led to the Nebraska State Patrol issuing an Endangered Missing Advisory because of his condition.
Blair police Cpt. Travis Lyon said in order to locate Lemaster, the police compiled information about him, his frequent walking destinations and any other information to help. Throughout Tuesday, they conducted searches at some of his frequent locations and utilized the help of a Washington County Sheriff's drone and the Omaha Police Department's Able 1 thermal imagining in areas.
On Wednesday, the search continued. Lyon said law enforcement again conducted foot and aerial searches while the Blair Fire Department deployed its rescue boat to search the river. Location efforts were again fruitless.
Lyon said the public is encouraged to review exterior security footage on cameras and Ring or other surveillance instruments to see if he passed by.
Miller said Lemaster likes to go on walks, sometimes long distances. He frequents fast food restaurants and has been known to walk to Walmart from their home by the Missouri River.
“He goes everywhere,” she said. “He likes to walk, he likes to talk to everybody.”
She said Lemaster “doesn't really stand out in a crowd” but does have some distinguishing features people should keep an eye out for.
“He'll give the biggest smile, show all his teeth and he'll wave really fast,” she said.
Miller added that he has a unique walk where he will talk to himself and twitch his hands.
“He doesn't walk with his arms swinging,” she said. “It's almost like he's trying to play with a basketball, moving his hands back and forth.”
Anyone with information to Lemaster's whereabouts is encouraged to call 911 or contact the Blair Police Department at (402) 426-4747 immediately.
