BEATRICE – One of the many law officers who descended on Peru, Nebraska in December, 2010 Thursday described the atmosphere as the search was underway for missing college student, Tyler Thomas.


Monty Lovelace was an investigator for the Nebraska State Patrol in southeast Nebraska, who was requested by Nemaha County Deputies to assist in the investigation, early the morning of December 4th, 2010. He is now a Lieutenant with the patrol.


"I would describe it as, the campus was abuzz. Oviously, there was something going on. I can remember when I got out of my car, I could distinctly remember seeing and hearing that the state patrol helicopter was in the air. I was greeted at the time by deputies, and we started talking about what was going on, and that led to various activities that day that started to unfold, in an effort to search for Ty Thomas".


Citizens groups aided in the search for Thomas, who has never been found and the patrol had duties of informing the media, about the search effort.
Joshua Keadle is on trial in Gage County District Court, charged with first-degree murder.
A news release on December 4th detailed information about Thomas, with a picture of her. Lovelace said the state patrol’s duties included interviewing people and searching for Thomas…..including use of the National Crime Information Center.


"It puts it into a database, that if a law enforcement officer came across an individual who was missing, or wanted even...if they ran that individual, that system would tell them that person was missing or wanted, and alert them that there was an issue there, that they needed to take action, on".


The information is still active, on the system. Law officers also utilized the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a non-profit organization that assists law enforcement nationwide. Tyler Thomas’ photo and information remains on the organization’s website.

Tyler Thomas Notice...Remains on National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Website
Tyler Thomas Notice...Remains on National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Website  

 
Among those called to testify Thursday afternoon during the trial was Chloe Courtier, of Omaha… a former Peru State student who knew Tyler Thomas….and had gone to a women’s basketball game with Thomas and others the night before Thomas went missing. She recalled Thomas drinking that night…in the range of 5 to 8 chugs, or shots of liquor…straight from a bottle.


When asked by the defense if Thomas was, “belligerently drunk that night”, Courtier responded, yes.


Also testifying was Geraldine Sunderman, formerly Ruis, from Shenandoah, Iowa…..another former Peru State student who knew Thomas.
"She was very active in the school....she was always greeting people. It's a small school....you know everyone....,but, I mean she was in every activity...she was a cheerleader and stuff...so I always saw her around".


Sunderman said she knew of Josh Keadle but did not know him well. She last saw Thomas walking on a sidewalk, heading back to a campus complex…saying Thomas was, “really drunk”.


The Keadle trial, moved from Nemaha County to Gage County on a change of venue motion, is concluding its first week.