Officials deny rumors that Ann Marie Kelley has been found

Rumors were running rampant in Beatrice Tuesday that authorities had found Ann Marie Kelley, a 36-year-old rural Filley woman who has been missing since April 15.

Gage County officials, however, maintained those stories were false.

“There is nothing to report, and these rumors have no basis in fact,” Gage County Attorney Randall Ritnour said Tuesday evening in a telephone interview.

Ritnour said his office received a call Tuesday morning from KUTT Radio saying someone had contacted the station claiming Kelley had been found. After spending most of Tuesday in Gage County District Court for the Richard Griswold murder trial, Ritnour said he was inundated with questions concerning Kelley when he left the courtroom after the trial was adjourned for the day.

In addition, a number of people also called the Gage County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday asking if Kelley had been found, but Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson said there was no truth to the reports.

“I wish we had found her,” Gustafson said.

In response to the rumors and barrage of questions, Ritnour said Gustafson asked him about 6 p.m. Tuesday if the county should issue a press release saying Kelley remains missing and the search for her and her 1991 Plymouth Voyager minivan continues.

An official statement will likely be released some time Wednesday, Ritnour said.

One of the stories heard Tuesday was that Kelley and her van were found in the Holmesville quarry. Ritnour, however, said he knew nothing about that.

Authorities, meanwhile, are continuing to ask the public for any information surrounding Kelley’s disappearance. She is described as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighing about 125-130 pounds, with auburn/red/brown hair.

Anyone with information should call the Gage County Sheriff’s Office at 402-223-5221 or Beatrice Crime Stoppers at 402-228-4343.