Nine months later, James Yoblonski is still missing

BARABOO, Wis. (WMTV) - Nine months after Baraboo teen James Yoblonski went missing near Devil’s Lake State Park, investigators hope their billboard leads to more tips.

The Sauk County Sheriff’s Department and Crime Stoppers put up a large sign near the North Shore Road entrance to Devil’s Lake in Baraboo this fall on County DL and West 136 across the street from Tumbled Rock Brewery.

The billboard has the words “Have you seen me?” written on them next to a picture of James.

This week marked nine months since the 14-year-old disappeared.

James was 13-year’s-old when he was reported missing and police believed he was trying to live as a survivalist in the Baraboo Bluffs.

Sheriff Chip Meister said the billboard has not led to any substantial clues yet, but that they think it could help them more in the warmer months when more people are at Devil’s Lake State Park.

”It sure is eye-catching. It makes me think of it every time. Gee, I wonder what happened to that boy?” Bernie Borkenhagen said. ”It’s kind of been upsetting to me that there hasn’t been anything new, news break, or that that the police have found anything.”

She lives near the billboard and said she knows Yoblonski’s siblings because she used to work at the school they attend.

”It’s just kind of heartbreaking to think what are they going through wondering what happened to their brother? I wonder if they’re thinking, ‘Hey? Are they still looking for my brother or has everybody just forgotten about him?’” she said. “So, I think it’s really nice to see that on the billboard. There’s a lot of traffic that would see that.”

Bernie’s husband Gary Borkenhagen also thinks the billboard is a good reminder that detectives still don’t know who killed hiker John Schmutzer at Devil’s Lake State Park in 2020.

The billboard also features Schmutzer’s picture with the words “Who Killed me?” written next to it.

”Anything can help,” Gary said. “I think if people come forward with what they may have seen that day or maybe even things that they may have heard in the days surrounding that event, it might be helpful for authorities to crack the case and find out what’s going on.”

James’ father William Yoblonski is frustrated with investigators and said they are not looking hard enough. He also said he’s upset because they have not returned his phone or other personal belongings they obtained during the investigation.

People with any information should call Sauk County Crime Stoppers at 888-847-7285.